title: Antimicrobial activities of silver dressings: an in vitro comparison.
abstract: A range of silver-coated or -impregnated dressings are now commercially available for use but comparative data on their antimicrobial efficacies are limited. The antibacterial activities of five commercially available silver-coated/impregnated dressings were compared against nine common burn-wound pathogens, namely methicillin-sensitive and -resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter cloacae, Proteus vulgaris, Acinetobacter baumannii and a multi-drug-efflux-positive Acinetobacter baumannii (BM4454), using a broth culture method. The rapidity and extent of killing of these pathogens under in vitro conditions were evaluated. All five silver-impregnated dressings investigated exerted bactericidal activity, particularly against Gram-negative bacteria, including Enterobacter species, Proteus species and E. coli. The spectrum and rapidity of action, however, ranged widely for different dressings. Acticoat and Contreet had a broad spectrum of bactericidal activities against both Gram-positive and -negative bacteria. Contreet was characterized by a very rapid bactericidal action and achieved a reduction of > or =10,000 c.f.u. ml(-1) in the first 30 min for Enterobacter cloacae, Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumanii. Other dressings demonstrated a narrower range of bactericidal activities. Understanding the characteristics of these dressings may enable them to be targeted more appropriately according to the specific requirements for use of a particular dressing, as in for prophylaxis in skin grafting or for an infected wound with MRSA.
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ip
authors.forename: Sau Lai
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Lui
authors.forename: Vincent K M
authors.initials: VKM
authors.lastname: Poon
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lung
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Burd
mesh_terms: D001458:Bandages; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible / Q000494:pharmacology; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests / Q000379:methods; D012834:Silver / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D012834:Silver