Artificial intelligence in wound care: diagnosis, assessment and treatment of hard-to-heal wounds: a narrative review.

OBJECTIVE: The effective assessment of wounds, both acute and hard-to-heal, is an important component in the delivery by wound care practitioners of efficacious wound care for patients. Improved wound diagnosis, optimising wound treatment regimens, and enhanced prevention of wounds aid in providing patients with a better quality of life (QoL). There is significant potential for the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in health-related areas such as wound care. However, AI-based systems remain to be developed to a point where they can be used clinically to deliver high-quality wound care. We have carried out a narrative review of the development and use of AI in the diagnosis, assessment and treatment of hard-to-heal wounds. We retrieved 145 articles from several online databases and other online resources, and 81 of them were included in this narrative review. Our review shows that AI application in wound care offers benefits in the assessment/diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of acute and hard-to-heal wounds. As well as offering patients the potential of improved QoL, AI may also enable better use of healthcare resources.

Safety and effectiveness of an antiseptic wound cleansing and irrigation solution containing polyhexamethylene biguanide.

OBJECTIVE: There is currently a wide range of cleansing and irrigation solutions available for wounds, many of which contain antimicrobial agents. The aim of this study was to assess the safety of HydroClean Solution (HARTMANN, Germany), a polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB)-containing irrigation solution, in a standard cytotoxicity assay, and to assess its effect in a three-dimensional (3D) full-thickness model of human skin. METHOD: A number of commercially available wound cleansing and irrigation solutions, including the PHMB-containing irrigation solution, were tested in a cytotoxicity assay using L929 mouse fibroblasts (ISO 10993-5:2009). The PHMB-containing irrigation solution was then assessed in an in vitro human keratinocyte-fibroblast 3D full-thickness wounded skin model to determine its effect on wound healing over six days. The effect of the PHMB-containing irrigation solution on tissue viability was measured using a lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay, and proinflammatory effects were measured using an interleukin-6 (IL-6) production assay. RESULTS: The PHMB-containing irrigation solution was shown to be equivalent to other commercially available cleansing and irrigation solutions when tested in the L929 fibroblast cytotoxicity assay. When assessed in the in vitro 3D human full-thickness wound healing model, the PHMB-containing irrigation solution treatment resulted in no difference in levels of LDH or IL-6 when compared with levels produced in control Dulbecco's phosphate-buffered saline cultures. There was, however, a pronounced tissue thickening of the skin model in the periwound region. CONCLUSION: The experimental data presented in this study support the conclusion that the PHMB-containing irrigation solution has a safety profile similar to other commercially available cleansing and irrigation solutions. Evidence also suggests that the PHMB-containing irrigation solution does not affect tissue viability or proinflammatory cytokine production, as evidenced by LDH levels or the production of IL-6 in a 3D human full-thickness wound healing model. The PHMB-containing irrigation solution stimulated new tissue growth in the periwound region of the skin model.

Polyhexamethylene biguanide and its antimicrobial role in wound healing: a narrative review.

A wound offers an ideal environment for the growth and proliferation of a variety of microorganisms which, in some cases, may lead to localised or even systemic infections that can be catastrophic for the patient; the development of biofilms exacerbates these infections. Over the past few decades, there has been a progressive development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in microorganisms across the board in healthcare sectors. Such resistant microorganisms have arisen primarily due to the misuse and overuse of antimicrobial treatments, and the subsequent ability of microorganisms to rapidly change and mutate as a defence mechanism against treatment (e.g., antibiotics). These resistant microorganisms are now at such a level that they are of grave concern to the World Health Organization (WHO), and are one of the leading causes of illness and mortality in the 21st century. Treatment of such infections becomes imperative but presents a significant challenge for the clinician in that treatment must be effective but not add to the development of new microbes with AMR. The strategy of antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) has stemmed from the need to counteract these resistant microorganisms and requires that current antimicrobial treatments be used wisely to prevent amplification of AMR. It also requires new, improved or alternative methods of treatment that will not worsen the situation. Thus, any antimicrobial treatment should be effective while not causing further development of resistance. Some antiseptics fall into this category and, in particular, polyhexamethylene hydrochloride biguanide (PHMB) has certain characteristics that make it an ideal solution to this problem of AMR, specifically within wound care applications. PHMB is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial that kills bacteria, fungi, parasites and certain viruses with a high therapeutic index, and is widely used in clinics, homes and industry. It has been used for many years and has not been shown to cause development of resistance; it is safe (non-cytotoxic), not causing damage to newly growing wound tissue. Importantly there is substantial evidence for its effective use in wound care applications, providing a sound basis for evidence-based practice. This review presents the evidence for the use of PHMB treatments in wound care and its alignment with AMS for the prevention and treatment of wound infection.

Effectiveness of wound contact layers in enabling undisturbed wound management: a case series.

OBJECTIVE: Wound contact layers (WCLs) are intended to protect and support wounds during the healing process. An open, non comparative, case series clinical evaluation was undertaken to assess the impact of these dressings on establishing an undisturbed wound environment that supports effective wound management, and to allow the establishment of limits of duration of the wear time for the experimental WCLs. METHOD: The primary objectives of this clinical evaluation were to assess the ability of the WCLs to prevent tissue disturbance to the wound and surrounding skin and for the clinicians to have confidence to extend the wear time of the WCL dressings. For them to have confidence in leaving the dressings in place for extended periods, the assessment of the wound and periwound skin condition and an assessment of patient comfort was performed: assessment of wound and periwound condition in relation to tissue adherence of the dressing to the wound resulting in tissue damage/bleeding (to wound and/or periwound skin) and cellular infiltration into the WCL; assessment of patient wearing comfort and satisfaction; assessment of WCL wear time, relating to times between dressing changes as judged by the clinician. RESULTS: Based upon five parameters used to assess the extent to which the WCLs Atrauman, Atrauman Silicone and Atrauman Ag (HARTMANN, Germany) disturbed the underlying tissues-bleeding, wound tissue damage, periwound skin damage, tissue ingrowth and dressing adherence-the majority (>95%) of assessments indicated low or no disturbance of tissue. Over the 14 days of study assessment, the mean (±standard deviation) wear time was 7.3±1.2 days for the Atrauman group, 9.9±2.8 days for the Atrauman Silicone group, and 5.8±1.0 days for the Atrauman Ag group. All dressings were well tolerated by patients and rated highly in terms of in-use dressing performance. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that Atrauman WCLs are suitable for the management of a variety of wounds as they promote an undisturbed wound environment, including extended wear time.

Experimental and clinical evidence for DACC-coated dressings: an update.

OBJECTIVE: To update the evidence in relation to the use of dialkylcarbamoyl chloride (DACC)-coated wound dressings in the prevention, treatment and management of wounds. METHOD: PubMed and PubMed Central databases were searched to identify articles published since 2020 describing the experimental and clinical evidence for DACC-coated dressings, and their antimicrobial effect, as well as their impact on the prevention and treatment of infected wounds. The identified articles were then narratively reviewed. RESULTS: The search yielded 113 articles (plus references from ad hoc sources), of which nine met the inclusion criteria. Of the nine included studies, five related to clinical aspects and four were laboratory studies. CONCLUSION: A number of new studies have provided further evidence for the mode of action of the antimicrobial effect of DACC-coated dressings and its wide spectrum effect (including World Health Organization-prioritised microorganisms). Additional clinical studies have provided evidence of new applications, such as in treating wounds in paediatric patients, and extended the evidence relating to their use in treating surgical site infections. Evidence also shows that DACC-coated wound dressings can aid in the binding of biofilms, and how this technology can align and support antimicrobial stewardship in the prevention of antimicrobial resistance.

Considerations for an ideal post-surgical wound dressing aligned with antimicrobial stewardship objectives: a scoping review.

OBJECTIVE: Most surgical wounds heal by primary or secondary intention. Surgical wounds can present specific and unique challenges including wound dehiscence and surgical site infection (SSI), either of which can increase risk of morbidity and mortality. The use of antimicrobials to treat infection in these wounds is prevalent, but there is now an imperative to align treatment with reducing antimicrobial resistance and antimicrobial stewardship (AMS). The aim of this review was to explore the published evidence identifying general considerations/criteria for an ideal post-surgical wound dressing in terms of overcoming potential wound healing challenges (including infection) while supporting AMS objectives. METHOD: A scoping review examining evidence published from 1954-2021, conducted by two authors acting independently. Results were synthesised narratively and have been reported in line with PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews. RESULTS: A total of 819 articles were initially identified and subsequently filtered to 178 for inclusion in the assessment. The search highlighted six key outcomes of interest associated with post-surgical wound dressings: wound infection; wound healing; physical attributes related to comfort, conformability and flexibility; fluid handling (e.g., blood and exudate); pain; and skin damage. CONCLUSION: There are several challenges that can be overcome when treating a post-surgical wound with a dressing, not least the prevention and treatment of SSIs. However, it is imperative that the use of antimicrobial wound dressings is aligned with AMS programmes and alternatives to active antimicrobials investigated.

Effectiveness of a polyhexamethylene biguanide-containing wound cleansing solution using experimental biofilm models.

OBJECTIVE: Antiseptics are widely used in wound management to prevent or treat wound infections, and have been shown to have antibiofilm efficacy. The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB)-containing wound cleansing and irrigation solution on model biofilm of pathogens known to cause wound infections compared with a number of other antimicrobial wound cleansing and irrigation solutions. METHOD: Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa single-species biofilms were cultured using microtitre plate and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) biofilm reactor methods. Following a 24-hour incubation period, the biofilms were rinsed to remove planktonic microorganisms and then challenged with wound cleansing and irrigation solutions. Following incubation of the biofilms with a variety of concentrations of the test solutions (50%, 75% or 100%) for 20, 30, 40, 50 or 60 minutes, remaining viable organisms from the treated biofilms were quantified. RESULTS: The six antimicrobial wound cleansing and irrigation solutions used were all effective in eradicating Staphylococcus aureus biofilm bacteria in both test models. However, the results were more variable for the more tolerant Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm. Only one of the six solutions (sea salt and oxychlorite/NaOCl-containing solution) was able to eradicate Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm using the microtitre plate assay. Of the six solutions, three (a solution containing PHMB and poloxamer 188 surfactant, a solution containing hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and a solution containing NaOCl/HOCl) showed increasing levels of eradication of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm microorganisms with increasing concentration and exposure time. Using the CDC biofilm reactor model, all six cleansing and irrigation solutions, except for the solution containing HOCl, were able to eradicate Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms such that no viable microorganisms were recovered. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that a PHMB-containing wound cleansing and irrigation solution was as effective as other antimicrobial wound irrigation solutions for antibiofilm efficacy. Together with the low toxicity, good safety profile and absence of any reported acquisition of bacterial resistance to PHMB, the antibiofilm effectiveness data support the alignment of this cleansing and irrigation solution with antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) strategies.

Implications of endotoxins in wound healing: a narrative review.

Bacterial toxins are thought to play a role in delayed wound healing in critically colonised and infected wounds. Endotoxins are released from Gram-negative bacteria when they are lysed by host phagocytic cells during an immune response, or by antimicrobial agents, potentially leading to a detrimental effect on the host tissues. Endotoxins can affect all aspects of the wound healing process, leading to delayed healing and contributing to wound chronicity. Release of endotoxins by bacteria can also have serious systemic effects (for example, septic shock) that can lead to high levels of patient mortality. This review summarises the role and implications on wound healing of bacterial endotoxins, describing the impact of endotoxins on the various phases of the wound healing response. There is a paucity of in vivo/clinical evidence linking endotoxins attributed to a wound (via antibiotic treatment) or their release from infecting bacteria with parameters of delayed wound healing. Future work should investigate if this link is apparent and determine the mechanism(s) by which such detrimental effects occur, offering an opportunity to identify possible treatment pathways. This paper describes the phenomenon of antimicrobial-induced endotoxin release and summarises the use of wound dressings to reduce wound bioburden without inducing microbial death and subsequent release of endotoxins, thus limiting their detrimental effects.

Hydro-responsive wound dressings for treating hard-to-heal wounds: a narrative review of the clinical evidence-part 2.

This narrative clinical review summarises the key evidence in support for the use of a hydro-responsive wound dressing, HydroTac (HRWD-2, PAUL HARTMANN AG, Germany) to address key aspects associated with the treatment of both acute and hard-to-heal wounds. This review demonstrates how HRWD-2 can be used in general to address the challenges presented by a wide range of wound types and skin injuries. It highlights the ability of HRWD-2 to regulate an optimal moist wound environment that promotes wound progression and healing. Key aspects covered in this review include the dressing's ability to: promote certain phases of the wound healing response (for example, re-epithelialisation) address the concepts and needs for wound progression as set out in the TIME wound management framework provide an optimal hydration level reduce tissue trauma and pain at dressing change.

HydroTac-a hydro-responsive wound dressing: a review of the in vitro evidence.

AIM: The aim of this review is to identify and summarise the key in vitro evidence available to support the use of HydroTac (HRWD-2) to address specific aspects associated with the treatment of both acute and hard-to-heal wounds. BACKGROUND: The provision of a moist wound healing environment to support optimal wound healing has been a basic tenet in wound care since the pioneering work on the benefits of occlusion to support wound healing. Modern wound dressings have adopted the benefits of moist healing through their innovative development. HRWD-2 has been shown in clinical studies to enable and support good healing outcomes and the in vitro evidence in support of this dressing is presented in this article. METHOD: An online literature search (supplemented with a manual search of resources not available online) was conducted to identify articles and studies describing in vitro evidence in support of HRWD-2 in aspects important for promoting a healing response in the clinical environment. RESULTS: In vitro studies showed that HRWD-2 contributes to balancing moisture levels and enhances the availability of growth factors known to be important for re-epithelialisation. Pre-clinical studies indicate that HRWD-2 enhances wound re-epithelialisation. Together these results suggest that HRWD-2 promotes a moist healing environment leading to the dressing supporting re-epithelialisation. In vitro data indicating an intrinsic lower in vitro adherence of HRWD-2 likely translate clinically to the benefits of an atraumatic wound dressing, including reduced pain (specifically at dressing change). CONCLUSION: The in vitro evidence presented in this review supports the successful clinical results reported for HRWD-2 in terms of fluid management, wound healing and pain reduction at dressing change.

The importance of periwound skin in wound healing: an overview of the evidence.

DECLARATION OF INTEREST: The authors have no conflicts of interest.

The clinical impact of hydro-responsive dressings in dynamic wound healing: Part II.

OBJECTIVE: Over the course of a wound's healing trajectory, whether the wound is acute or hard-to-heal, management is likely to involve the use of several different dressing types. Minimising the complexity of treatment (in terms of dressing usage) would aid clinicians in providing effective wound care but excellent clinical outcomes must remain the primary goal. METHOD: This study was an open-labelled, non-comparative study assessing the clinical effectiveness of a coordinated wound dressing treatment regimen. After an initial phase of using a hydro-responsive wound dressing (HydroClean, HRWD-1, PAUL HARTMANN AG, Germany) to cleanse and debride hard-to-heal wounds, the wounds were subsequently treated with either HydroTac (HRWD-2, PAUL HARTMANN AG, Germany) (to maintain healing progression and re-epithelialisation) or RespoSorb (a superabsorbent dressing, PAUL HARTMANN AG, Germany) (to manage moderate-to-high levels of exudate). The Pressure Ulcer Scale for Healing (PUSH) assessment tool was used to measure the wound status over the course of the treatment period and to assess several wound status parameters (for example, wound area, exudate levels and wound characteristics such as level of re-epithelialisation). RESULTS: The results from this study demonstrated that wounds treated with HRWD-2 showed a positive healing response when using the PUSH score assessment tool with a significant mean reduction (p<0.0001) in the PUSH score of wounds treated with HRWD-2, with >75% of wounds being closed by the end of the study. This result underlines the effectiveness of HRWD-2 in supporting healing progression. CONCLUSION: The results from this study support the coordinated use of HRWDs for the effective management and treatment of a variety of hard-to-heal wounds.

Estrategias de protección antimicrobiana en el cuidado de heridas: evidencia para el uso de apósitos recubiertos con DACC.

BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the most serious health threats globally. The development of new antimicrobials is not keeping pace with the evolution of resistant microorganisms, and novel ways of tackling this problem are required. One of such initiatives has been the development of antimicrobial stewardship programmes (AMS). The use of wound dressings that employ a physical sequestration and retention approach to reduce bacterial burden offers a novel approach to support AMS. Bacterial-binding by dressings and their physical removal can minimise their damage and prevent the release of harmful endotoxins. OBJECTIVE: To highlight AMS to promote the correct use of antimicrobials and to investigate how dialkylcarbamyl chloride (DACC)-coated dressings can support AMS. METHOD: MEDLINE, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Google Scholar were searched to identify articles relating to AMS, and the use of wound dressings in the prevention and treatment of wound infections. The evidence supporting alternative wound dressings that can reduce bioburden and prevent wound infection in a way that does not kill or damage the microorganisms were reviewed. RESULTS: The evidence demonstrated that using bacterial-binding wound dressings that act in a physical manner (eg, DACC-coated dressings) to preventing infection in both acute and hard-to-heal wounds does not exacerbate AMR and supports AMS. CONCLUSION: Some wound dressings work via a mechanism that promotes the binding and physical sequestration and removal of intact microorganisms from the wound bed (eg, a wound dressing that uses DACC technology to prevent/reduce infection). They provide a valuable tool that aligns with the requirements of AMS by effectively reducing wound bioburden without inducing/selecting for resistant bacteria.

ANTECEDENTES: Normalmente, las infecciones son tratadas con antimicrobianos (antibióticos, antisépticos, etc.). La resistencia antimicrobiana (AMR, por sus siglas en inglés) se ha convertido en una de las amenazas del siglo XXI más graves para la salud mundial. Las heridas pueden ser una fuente de infección al permitir la entrada libre de microorganismos dentro del cuerpo, incluyendo bacterias resistentes a antimicrobianos. El desarrollo de nuevos antimicrobianos (especialmente, antibióticos) no está siguiendo el ritmo de la evolución de microorganismos resistentes y de formas novedosas de abordar este problema con la urgencia que demanda. Una de estas iniciativas ha sido el desarrollo de programas de protección antimicrobiana (AMS, por sus siglas en inglés), que brindan capacitación a los trabajadores del área de la salud y controlan la prescripción, enfocándose en los antimicrobianos para reducir la probabilidad de que se produzca AMR. El uso de apósitos para herida que utilizan el aislamiento físico y el abordaje de retención, en vez de agentes antimicrobianos, para reducir la carga bacteriana ofrecen un abordaje novedoso para apoyar a los AMS. La fijación bacteriana por los apósitos y su retiro físico, en lugar de la muerte activa, minimiza su daño y, además, previene la liberación de endotoxinas dañinas. OBJETIVO: Resaltar los AMS para la promoción del uso correcto de antimicrobianos e investigar cómo los apósitos recubiertos con cloruro de dialquilcarbamilo (DACC) pueden ayudar a cubrir las metas de los AMS. MÉTODO: Se realizaron búsquedas en las bases de datos de revisiones sistemáticas, Medline, Cochrane y Google Scholar con el fin de identificar artículos publicados que describan los datos relacionados con los AMS, y el uso de una gran variedad de apósitos para heridas para la prevención y/o tratamiento de infecciones de la herida. La evidencia que respalda a los apósitos para heridas alternativos que pueden reducir la biocarga y prevenir y/o tratar la infección de heridas de forma tal que no maten ni dañen a los microorganismos (por ejemplo, fijándose activamente y retirando intactos a los microorganismos de las heridas) fue posteriormente revisada de forma oral. CONCLUSIÓN: Algunos apósitos para heridas actúan a través de mecanismos que promueven la fijación y absorción física, aislamiento y retiro de microorganismos intactos de la base de la herida (por ejemplo, un apósito para heridas que utiliza la tecnología DACC para prevenir/reducir la infección). Esta es una herramienta valiosa que cumple con los requisitos del AMS (por ejemplo, reducción del uso de antimicrobianos en esquemas de tratamiento de heridas) al reducir la biocarga de la herida sin inducir/seleccionar bacterias resistentes.

Antimicrobial stewardship strategies in wound care: evidence to support the use of dialkylcarbamoyl chloride (DACC)- coated wound dressings.

BACKGROUND: Traditionally, infections are treated with antimicrobials (for example, antibiotics, antiseptics, etc), but antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has become one of the most serious health threats of the 21st century (before the emergence of COVID-19). Wounds can be a source of infection by allowing unconstrained entry of microorganisms into the body, including antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. The development of new antimicrobials (particularly antibiotics) is not keeping pace with the evolution of resistant microorganisms and novel ways of addressing this problem are urgently required. One such initiative has been the development of antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programmes, which educate healthcare workers, and control the prescribing and targeting of antimicrobials to reduce the likelihood of AMR. Of great importance has been the European Wound Management Association (EWMA) in supporting AMS by providing practical recommendations for optimising antimicrobial therapy for the treatment of wound infection. The use of wound dressings that use a physical sequestration and retention approach rather than antimicrobial agents to reduce bacterial burden offers a novel approach that supports AMS. Bacterial-binding by dressings and their physical removal, rather than active killing, minimises their damage and hence prevents the release of damaging endotoxins. AIM: Our objective is to highlight AMS for the promotion of the judicious use of antimicrobials and to investigate how dialkylcarbamoyl chloride (DACC)-coated dressings can support AMS goals. METHOD: MEDLINE, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Google Scholar were searched to identify published articles describing data relating to AMS, and the use of a variety of wound dressings in the prevention and/or treatment of wound infections. The evidence supporting alternative wound dressings that can reduce bioburden and prevent and/or treat wound infection in a manner that does not kill or damage the microorganisms (for example, by actively binding and removing intact microorganisms from wounds) were then narratively reviewed. RESULTS: The evidence reviewed here demonstrates that using bacterial-binding wound dressings that act in a physical manner (for example, DACC-coated dressings) as an alternative approach to preventing and/or treating infection in both acute and hard-to-heal wounds does not exacerbate AMR and supports AMS. CONCLUSION: Some wound dressings work via a mechanism that promotes the binding and physical uptake, sequestration and removal of intact microorganisms from the wound bed (for example, a wound dressing that uses DACC technology to successfully prevent/reduce infection). They provide a valuable tool that aligns with the requirements of AMS (for example, reducing the use of antimicrobials in wound treatment regimens) by effectively reducing wound bioburden without inducing/selecting for resistant bacteria.

Hydro-responsive wound dressings for treating hard-to-heal wounds: a narrative review of the clinical evidence.

A break in skin integrity must be repaired as quickly as possible to avoid excess blood and fluid loss, and to minimise the onset of infection. Hard-to-heal wounds, in which the progression of the wound healing response is compromised, present several challenges to healing (for example, the presence of devitalised tissue acting as a physical barrier to healing and as a focus for bacterial contamination with the potential for subsequent infection). The objective of this article is to present, as a narrative review, the clinical evidence supporting the use of a unique hydro-responsive wound dressing (HydroClean, HRWD1, PAUL HARTMANN AG, Germany). The dressing provides a simple treatment option to address a number of clinical challenges clinicians must overcome in order to facilitate wound healing progression. These studies demonstrated that this product supported successful debridement/cleansing of a wide variety of wounds, including hard-to-heal wounds, enabled wound bed preparation, and lead to positive healing outcomes, including in wounds that previously had failed to heal. The simplicity of using HRWD1 as a single dressing can help clinicians overcome a variety of challenges when treating both acute and hard-to-heal wounds, which, with the benefit of proven patient outcomes, could make it an ideal choice for a first-line treatment.

Treatment of 52 patients with a self-adhesive siliconised superabsorbent dressing: a multicentre observational study.

OBJECTIVE: To provide 'in use' clinical data to support exudate management in patients with moderately to highly exuding wounds with bordered superabsorbent wound dressing with a silicone adhesive interface. METHOD: This study was an open-labelled non-comparative study. Patients included in the study were selected by the clinical investigator(s) according to whether the patient required a dressing for the management of moderately to highly exuding wounds. RESULTS: The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical objective in relation to exudate handling (moderate to high) with a superabsorbent silicone border dressing (Zetuvit Plus Silicone Border; SAP silicone border dressing; designated RespoSorb Silicone Border in some countries). The SAP border dressing had met the clinical objectives relating to exudate management, affirmed by the health professionals with a yes response in 94% of cases. Additionally, the health professionals rated the handling of exudate as excellent/good (78%) and most (80%) reported that they would use the SAP silicone border dressing again. Allied to this was the fact that the SAP silicone border dressing improved the wound edge and periwound skin conditions (29% and 36% of patients, respectively). Regarding dressing retention, the SAP silicone border dressing retained its position in 72% of patients. For wear time, the largest proportion of dressing changes, both pre-study and during the evaluation period, was every third day (45% and 44%, respectively). But there was a shift to extended wear time with use of the SAP silicone border dressing with 72% of patients' dressing changes being every third day or longer. CONCLUSION: The SAP silicone border dressing was successful in managing wound exudate in moderately to highly exuding wounds and consequently this had a beneficial impact on the wound edge and periwound skin. Overall, there was a positive effect on wound bed preparation and in turn the healing response was progressive. This study has shown that the SAP silicone border dressing successfully controlled exudate and provided positive benefits when used in the treatment of patients with moderately to highly exuding wounds.

Management of postoperative bleeding in surgically debrided wounds: topical haemostat versus electrocautery.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of a temporary topical external haemostat (OMNI-STAT Granules, Omni-stat Medical Inc., US) versus the use of electrocautery for bleeding control in patients who have undergone surgical wound debridement. Time saved in the operating room (OR) was evaluated. METHOD: A prospective evaluation of use of a topical haemostat in an OR setting was compared with retrospective data collected using electrocautery to understand the time-saving benefits of using a topical haemostat versus electrocautery. RESULTS: A total of 52 patients were treated with the topical haemostat, and 89 patients with electrocautery. The topical haemostat was shown to be as effective in achieving haemostasis post-surgical debridement as electrocautery, with the added benefits of significant time savings in the OR (reducing the mean total OR time by 19.1%). Additionally, preprocedure and surgical procedure times in patients treated with the topical haemostat were significantly reduced. The results showed that wounds treated with the topical haemostat demonstrated a more advanced stage of healing, which may be a result of the lack of tissue damage demonstrated with the topical haemostat compared with electrocautery. CONCLUSION: This study found that the temporary topical haemostat was equally as effective as cauterisation in achieving haemostasis. In addition, significant saving in OR time was demonstrated relative to electrocautery. The improved OR times may translate into increased cost-effectiveness, relative to electrocautery, by increasing the number of surgical cases per day and/or using resources more effectively to treat more patients. It may also enable bleeding control in the outpatient clinic or at the bedside, freeing up costly OR time and enabling more effective management of healthcare resources.

Evaluation of a superabsorbent wound dressing, patient and clinician perspective: a case series.

OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the fluid management capabilities of a superabsorbent wound dressing (Zetuvit Plus Silicone), with secondary objectives related to parameters that support whether the dressing enables undisturbed healing. METHOD: This study was an open labelled non-comparative study. Patients included in the study were selected by the clinical investigator(s) according to whether the patient required a dressing for the management of moderately to highly exuding wounds. RESULTS: A total of 50 patients were included in the study. Results related to the primary objective demonstrated that the superabsorbent wound dressing was able to absorb all levels of exudate across the range (low to high). At each assessment time point these results show that in 98% of assessments the superabsorbent dressing was rated as 'very good' (91%) or 'good' (7%) at exudate management. Secondary objectives relating to wound bed preparation, healing and management of pain were also positive. Additionally, at the end of each patient treatment, the dressing's fluid management capabilities were rated overall as 'excellent' (100% of cases). There was little pain associated with the wound or at dressing change throughout the study and its flexibility/conformability allowed for comfort and patient satisfaction aligned with increased quality of life. Additionally, inclusion of a silicone adhesive layer allowed painless and atraumatic removal of the dressing, increasing patient comfort, both during wear and at dressing removal, and supported the description of enabling undisturbed wound healing. CONCLUSION: The superabsorbent wound dressing achieved the primary objective relating to wound exudate management in all the assessments undertaken in this study. In addition, the silicone interface allowed for undisturbed healing as evidenced by little or no adherence of the dressing to underlying tissue, preventing damage to periwound skin. Overall, the superabsorbent wound dressing with the addition of the silicone interface could offer advantages over other superabsorbent polymer dressings (that might adhere to the wound surface) or silicone wound dressings (that might not have the absorbent properties of this type of dressing).

Clinical evaluation of a superabsorbent polymer dressing in enabling self-care of wounds.

Patient involvement in their own treatment can enable those with wounds in the community to play an active role in the management of their condition by, for example, completing dressing changes between health professional visits. The original primary study was undertaken to assess the clinical effectiveness of Zetuvit Plus Silicone Border (ZPSB) on exudate management. This retrospective sub-group analysis is aimed to demonstrate the effectiveness of a superabsorbent polymer (SAP) dressing (ZPSB) in enabling patients or their carers to undertake unsupervised dressing changes on their own. ZPSB was found to be clinically effective in this subgroup of patients, while also having additional features that enabled the patient to self-care. Overall, ZPSB enabled the patient to be part of their treatment plan and play an active role in the care of their wounds, thereby promoting self-care. This had a positive effect on nursing time saving and patient satisfaction.

Treating drug-resistant wound pathogens with non-medicated dressings: an in vitro study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the in vitro antimicrobial performance of a non-medicated hydro-responsive wound dressing (HRWD) on the sequestration and killing of wound relevant microorganisms found on the World Health Organization (WHO) priority pathogens list. METHODS: Suspensions of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) were placed on petri dishes. Dressings were each placed on top, incubated for 30 minutes and then removed from the inoculated petri dish. The surface of the dressings previously in contact with the bacterial suspensions were placed directly onto a tryptone soy agar (TSA) plate and incubated for 24 hours. Dressings were then removed from the TSA plate and the level of bacterial growth on the plates was assessed. Sequestered microorganism viability was assessed using LIVE/DEAD viability kits and visualisation by epifluorescence. RESULTS: Our results indicated that HRWDs sequester and retain Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii and MRSA within the dressing. Non-medicated HRWDs containing bound PHMB (polyhexamethylene biguanide, HRWD+PHMB) killed the microorganisms sequestered within the dressing matrix. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that non-medicated HRWD+PHMB is an effective against WHO priority pathogens and promoting goal of antimicrobial stewardship in wound care.