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Laboratory Research
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Visualisation of silver levels in Acticoat and Aquacel Ag using scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive x-ray microanalysis Peter West, Paul Gunning Aim.To compare the amount of silver contained within two antimicrobial wound dressings using techniques capable of depicting the presence of silver at high resolution Methods.ACTICOAT and AQUACEL Ag dressings were investigated using standard (non-silver containing) AQUACEL as a control. Scanning electron microscopy images were produced for each dressing and energy dispersive x-ray microanalysis (ED-X) was performed with elemental dot maps being false coloured to indicate the presence and location of silver within each dressing Results.A marked difference was observed in the levels of silver within the two silver dressings Fibres within the AQUACEL Ag dressing had a smooth appearance with a sparse distribution of particulate material across the fibre surface and throughout the fibres (as revealed by the fracture surface of several fibres). ED-X spectra collected from particulate material that had been isolated from the sample fibre revealed the presence of silver but showed that it was unevenly distributed and present at a low level ED-X microanalysis of ACTICOAT confirmed the presence of silver and that it is evenly distributed across the surface of the dressing leaving no visible areas uncoated, thus indicating a high surface area of silver Discussion.Healing can be delayed in infected wounds and for this reason, a rapid speed of kill is essential for superior antimicrobial management to optimise wound healing False-colouring silver in x-ray elemental dot-maps has clearly shown the difference in silver levels available within two antimicrobial dressings This study shows visually that levels of silver differ greatly between ACTICOAT and AQUACEL Ag. Robson MC. Wound infection. A failure of wound healing caused by an imbalance of bacteria. Surg Clin North Am. 1997;77:637Ð650 Madsen SM, Westh H, Danielsen L, Rosdahl VT. Bacterial colonization and healing of venous leg ulcers. APIMIS. 1996;104:895Ð899. |
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