Wound dressing containing ionic silver capable of killing multidrug-resistant organisms

ConvaTec, a world-leading developer and marketer of innovative medical technologies for community and hospital care, today announced in vitro study results showing that a wound dressing containing ionic silver is able to kill several strains of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs), commonly referred to as 'superbugs.' The study results were published in the August issue of the International Wound Journal.

In the in vitro study, four models designed to simulate stringent clinical conditions were used to investigate the antimicrobial efficacy of AQUACEL™ Ag dressing. The simulated wound fluid (SWF) model was used to measure sustained antimicrobial activity over time. The simulated colonized shallow wound (SCSW) model was designed to investigate the effect of dressing conformability on activity of AQUACEL™ Ag dressing. The simulated colonized wound surface (SCWS) model was used to investigate the antimicrobial activity of the AQUACEL™ Ag dressing against a variety of MDROs seeded into agar directly beneath the dressing.  The biofilm model (poloxamer) was used to assess the antimicrobial activity of the AQUACEL™ Ag dressing when each of the MDROs was expressing a biofilm phenotype. Non-silver AQUACEL™ dressing was used as a control where appropriate.

Multidrug-resistant organisms tested included Acinetobacter baumannii, community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing bacteria. Clostridium difficile was also included because it demonstrates many of the characteristics seen in MDROs and has evidence of emerging resistance.

Throughout all test methods, AQUACEL™ Ag dressing was shown to have consistent antimicrobial activity against a variety of MDROs. The authors concluded that in vitro antimicrobial efficacy of AQUACEL™ Ag dressing against a variety of MDROs could indicate a potential clinical benefit to preventing or controlling endogenous wound infections where antibiotic options are limited and tolerated by biofilm phenotypes. They further concluded that it may also act as an antimicrobial barrier to prevent the spread of such pathogens into the wider community.