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Laboratory Research
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An evaluation of two polysaccharide silver-based high absorbency wound dressings Debashish Chakravarthy, PhD, Richard Freeman, PhD, Colin Bradford, MSc, Cynthia Fleck, RN, BSN, MBA, ET/WOCN, CWS, DAPWCA, FCCWS Introduction:.Two silver alginate dressings with similar characteristics and marketing claims were compared with respect to physical properties. In addition, a questionnaire based comparative evaluation was performed by a cross-section of clinicians at two professional conferences. One product contains sodium/calcium alginate and carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), and silver zirconium phosphate* (product A). The other contains sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and ionic silver** (product B) Methods:.Absorbency: Samples were saturated with a wound fluid substitute, followed by draining and weighing..Dry tensile strength was measured using a calibrated tensometer with standardized sample sizes and machine settings..Wet integrity was measured similar to dry integrity except the samples were saturated in wound fluid substitute prior to testing..Antimicrobial performance: was measured by repeat challenge zone of inhibition (ZOI) and a 7 day log reduction test on microbes suspended in a growth medium..User evaluation: Clinicians were requested to evaluate the user friendliness aspects of product A and product B by immersion in a wound fluid simulating medium and observing the handling characteristics of the product. Responses were recorded on a questionnaire Results:.Absorbency: product A - 24.0g/100cm², product B - 17.5g/100cm²..Dry integrity: product A - 2.1N/cm, product B - 1.3N/cm..Wet integrity: product A - 1.5N/cm, product B - 0.1N/cm..User evaluation: A majority of clinicians preferred the handling aspects of product A compared to product B All numbers are mean values Conclusions:.The primary function of the two dressings is exudate management, and the sodium-calcium alginate/carboxymethylcellulose (CMC)/silver zirconium phosphate* product had substantially superior physical performance compared to the sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC)/ionic silver** product as proven by laboratory tests as well as handling evaluation by clinicians. .*Maxorb Ag¨ (product A).**Aquacel Ag¨ (product B) Medline Industries, Inc., Mundelein, IL, product literature and www.medline.com ConvaTec, A Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, New York, New York and www.convatec.com. |
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