[How I treat... the critical bacterial colonization of a leg ulcer. The Yin and the Yang features of silver-based dressings].
The critical bacterial colonizaion of leg ulcers can impair their healing rate, aggravate the patient discomfort and increase the medical and nursing costs. In recent times, the dressings designed for leg ulcers have followed a pace of conceptual revolution. Some of them are now offered containing an antiseptic of the silver salt family. The silver concentraton delivered into the wound bed is important to consider when assessing treatment efficacy. The diversity of the silver-based dressings currently on the European market is as large as their differences in activity. Only a minority of these dressings adequately control the wound biocenosis. Their cost which is high for the patient, must be compared to that of nursing care that may become less important. The expected beneficit is a reduction in healing time.
Piérard-Franchimont
C
C
Chargé de Cours adjoint, CHU du Sart Tilman, Service de Dermatopathologie, Liège.
Quatresooz
P
P
Paquet
P
P
Henry
F
F
Piérard
G E
GE
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007871:Leg Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology*; D012834:Silver / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity; D018030:Silver Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D018030:Silver Compounds; D012834:Silver