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Hydrofiber® Technology aquacel ionic

Aquacel® Ag dressing - Ionic silver

Why silver?

Logo Aquacel Ag

Silver is a proven antimicrobial in the management of infected wounds and wounds at risk of infection, when used in a protocol of care1, 3.

Proactive use of silver dressings “...can inhibit the progression of bacterial penetration and can be effective against MRSA and most other superficial pathogens.”4

Limitations of other antimicrobial treatments

Some iodine preparations may be:

  • Irritating5, 6
  • Painful to use6
  • Inhibitive to healing7
  • Inactivated by wound exudate8

Silver sulfadiazine can result in:

  • Development of a pseudoeschar8
  • Inflammation2
  • Maceration7
  • Delayed re-epithelialisation2, 7
  • Frequent reapplications2, 8, 9
  • Gauze can adhere to wounds, causing pain and trauma to the wound bed upon removal10

Silver activity on bacteria

Silver has a far lower propensity to induce bacterial resistance than classic antibiotics on account of its multi-targeted mechanism of action11.
When ionic silver encounters bacterial cells, the silver ions damage bacterial cell walls and interfere with DNA synthesis; silver also denatures proteins and enzymes, and inhibits protein synthesis, effectively killing the bacterium.

Ionic silver

In this ionic form, silver is active as an antimicrobial agent. Ag (silver metal) can only become effective as an antimicrobial agent when it transitions to Ag+ (ionic silver) in the presence of moisture and oxygen.
Ionic silver (Ag+) is stabilized by linking to any “anion.” Hydrofiber® Technology is (poly)anionic, therefore Ag+ can be directly linked to it.
All the silver in AQUACEL® Ag dressing is Ag+ and can be made available. Therefore, only a small amount is required for the dressing to provide antimicrobial activity.
 

References [+]

  1. Lansdown ABG. Silver: Its antibacterial properties and mechanism of action. J Wound Care. 2002;11(4);125-130.
  2. Demling RH, DeSanti L. Part 1:Effects of silver on wound management. Wounds. 2001;13 (supplA):5-15.
  3. Lansdown ABG.A review of the use of silver in wound care;facts and fallacies. Br J Nurs. 2004;13(suppl):S6-S19 .
  4. Driver VR. Silver dressings in clinical practice. Ostomy Wound Manage. 2004;50(suppl 9A);11S-15S.
  5. Tosti A, Vincenzi C, Bardazzi F, Mariani R. Allergic contact dermatitis due to povidone-iodine. Contact Dermatitis.1990;23(3):197-198.
  6. Hansson C. and the Cadexomer Study Group. The effects of cadexomer iodine paste in the treatment of venous leg ulcers compared with hydrocolloid dressing and paraffin gauze dressing. Int J Dermatol. 1998;37(5):390-396.
  7. Klein DG, Fritsch DE, Amin SG. Wound infection following trauma and burn injuries. Crit Care Nurse Clin N Am. 1995;7(4):627-642.
  8. Monafo WW, West MA. Current treatment recommendations for topical burn therapy. Drugs. 1990;40(3):364-373.
  9. Cutting KF. Wound healing, bacteria and topical therapies. EWMA Journal. 2003;3(1):17-19.
  10. Foster L, Moore P. The application of a cellulose-based fibre dressing in surgical wounds. J of Wound Care. 1997;6(10):469-473.
  11. Percival SL, Bowler PG, Russell D. Bacterial resistance to silver in wound care. Journal of Hospital Infection. 2005;60:1-7.