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Lab Res.
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Efficacy and moisture management of a novel, bi-layer silver wound dressing* Mark Wiencek, Andrew Canada, Marty Cowan, Geoff Haas. The use of silver wound dressings to treat chronic dermal ulcers has increased dramatically in the last decade. We describe here the development of a new silver dressing that exhibits comparable antimicrobial performance and enhanced management of wound exudate. The dressing is composed of two layers Ð the wound contact layer is hydrophobic, the layer facing away from wound is hydrophilic. When used with an absorptive secondary dressing, the bi-layer primary dressing optimizes the moisture level at the wound:dressing interface by transporting excess exudates away from the wound (from the hydrophobic side to the hydrophilic side). The composite dressing also is treated with a silver-ion antimicrobial to provide an effective barrier to microbial contamination. The moisture management properties of the dressing were assessed by several methods, including differential diffusion of simulated wound exudate. Silver release under different conditions of exposure was measured with an Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer (ICP-OES). Efficacy of the dressing against wound pathogens was determined through several in vitro assays, including multiple-exposure, agar-diffusion assays and quantitative reduction tests. Results demonstrate the unique ability of the dressing to transport moisture away from the wound, even when compressed. Results of silver release assays and in vitro efficacy tests indicate the dressing releases sufficient silver to retard the growth of microbes in the dressing over several days *SelectSilverª by Milliken & Company, Spartanburg, SC. |
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