Open AccessComparative evaluation of silver‐containing antimicrobial dressings and drugs
Author(s) -
Castellano Joseph J,
Shafii Susan M,
Ko Francis,
Donate Guillermo,
Wright Terry E,
Mannari Rudolph J,
Payne Wyatt G,
Smith David J,
Robson Martin C
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
international wound journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.867
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1742-481X
pISSN - 1742-4801
DOI - 10.1111/j.1742-481x.2007.00316.x
Subject(s) - antimicrobial , silver sulfadiazine , staphylococcus aureus , medicine , gentamicin sulfate , pseudomonas aeruginosa , microbiology and biotechnology , gentamicin , antibiotics , bacteria , surgery , biology , wound healing , genetics
Wound dressings containing silver as antimicrobial agents are available in various forms and formulations; however, little is understood concerning their comparative efficacy as antimicrobial agents. Eight commercially available silver‐containing dressings, Acticoat ® 7, Acticoat ® Moisture Control, Acticoat ® Absorbent, Silvercel™, Aquacel ® Ag, Contreet ® F, Urgotol ® SSD and Actisorb ® , were tested to determine their comparative antimicrobial effectiveness in vitro and compared against three commercially available topical antimicrobial creams, a non treatment control, and a topical silver‐containing antimicrobial gel, Silvasorb ® . Zone of inhibition and quantitative testing was performed by standard methods using Escherichia coli , Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Streptococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus . Results showed all silver dressings and topical antimicrobials displayed antimicrobial activity. Silver‐containing dressings with the highest concentrations of silver exhibited the strongest bacterial inhibitive properties. Concreet ® F and the Acticoat ® dressings tended to have greater antimicrobial activity than did the others. Topical antimicrobial creams, including silver sulfadiazine, Sulfamylon and gentamicin sulfate, and the topical antimicrobial gel Silvasorb ® exhibited superior bacterial inhibition and bactericidal properties, essentially eliminating all bacterial growth at 24 hours. Silver‐containing dressings are likely to provide a barrier to and treatment for infection; however, their bactericidal and bacteriostatic properties are inferior to commonly used topical antimicrobial agents.