Topical Wound Treatments
When it comes to wound care, the challenge is to strike a balance between keeping the wound clean and moist, while at the same time fighting off the bacteria and microorganisms that threaten the body’s natural ability to heal itself. A moist environment provides a perfect breeding ground for infectious microorganisms that can make the healing process not only painful and malodorous. Infection that occurs in a healing wound can cause complications and become costly to treat.
Throughout history, researchers and physicians have tried any number of topical treatments for wound care, including antibiotics, chlordexidine, hydrogen peroxide, iodine, silver and even honey.
The goal has always been to find the most effective and beneficial counterpart to sterile dressings and compression bandaging for wound care.
Today, hydrogels, isotonic saline gel, cadexomer iodine gel and other viscous substances are being used to help create a moist but sterile environment. These substances allow the tissue in and around the wound to slough off while keeping serious bacterial infections, like methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and other “superbugs,” at bay.
Use of these newer solutions has proven to promote a more rapid healing timeframe and a better overall outcome for wound care patients. The addition of silver (Ag) to these newer substances helps ensure a sterile environment for healing, as the sustained release of silver ions to the wound is effective against a broad range of bacteria and other microorganisms, including methicillin and vancoycin-resistant strains, fungi, viruses and yeast.
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