Clinical Impact of an Enhanced Antimicrobial Hydrofiber Dressing in Non-Healing Wounds Previously Managed with Standard Silver Dressings, Iodine Dressings, or Antibiotics

Aim: To examine patient case studies where challenging, non-healing wounds, that had previously been treated with standard silver dressings, iodine dressings, or antibiotics, were switched to management with a new enhanced silver-containing antimicrobial Hydrofiber wound dressing (AAA). 

Method: Case study evaluations of the AAA dressing have previously been conducted (1), where deteriorating or stagnant wounds were selected by clinicians, and primary dressings were replaced by AAA for up to 4 weeks, or as clinically appropriate, with monitoring via case report forms. These forms have been interrogated for cases where standard silver or iodine dressings, or antibiotics, were used prior to the switch. 

Results & Discussion: 67 cases were identified for inclusion (30 previously managed with standard silver dressings, 21 with iodine dressings, and 16 with antibiotics), wounds ranging in duration from 1 week—20 years (median 10 months). In 47 cases the wounds were stagnant, while 15 were deteriorating (5 not recorded). After an average of 4.7 weeks of management with AAA dressing (range 2—10 weeks), in 9 cases the wounds had healed (13%), 40 wounds improved (60%), 11 wounds remained the same (16%), and 7 wounds deteriorated (10%). Switching from management with standard antimicrobial agents to the AAA dressing was shown to facilitate improvements in the healing status of a majority of these challenging wounds. Dressings containing enhanced antimicrobial technology designed to manage persistent wound bioburden, in combination with exudate management technology, appear to be an effective alternative to standard antimicrobial dressings and antibiotics.

Conclusion: In this clinical evaluation, the AAA dressing with enhanced antimicrobial technology appeared to promote healing in a majority of previously non-healing wounds that had not responded to standard antimicrobial dressings and antibiotics.