Comparison of efficacy of 1% silver sulfadiazine and Acticoat for treatment of partial-thickness burn wounds.
BACKGROUND
Acticoat (Smith & Nephew, Hull, UK) is a silver-coated dressing reported to reduce infection and exhibit antimicrobial activity in wounds.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the present study was to compare the efficacy ofacticoat and 1% silver sulfadiazine (1% AgSD) for treatment of partial thickness burn wounds.


METHODS
The authors reviewed 50 patients who had partial thickness burn wounds less than 25% admitted to Siriraj Burn Unit from May 2002 to September 2005. All patients were divided into 2 groups: the acticoat treated group (25 patients) and the 1% silver sulfadiazine treated group (25 patients). The 2 groups were compared for the etiology of burn wound, demographic data including age, sex, % Total Body Surface Area burn (TBSA%), cultured organisms, wound infection and outcome of Length Of hospital Stay (LOS) and level of pain.


RESULTS
The authors found no significant differences in age, TBSA (%) between both groups. 7 patients (28%) developed wound infection. There were no differences in wound infection and LOS between both groups (p > 0.05). All of the patients who developed wound infection responded well to targeted topical and systemic antibiotic treatment. The 1% AgSD treated group (6 of 25, 24%) obtained more split thickness skin graft to close the granulation defects compared to patients who were treated with acticoat (4 of 25, 16%) but no statistical significance, p = 0.32). Average pain scores in the acticoat treated groups were significantly lower than the 1% AgSD treated group (4 +/- 0.6 versus 5 +/- 0.7, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
The present study confirms the efficacy of acticoat treatment in partial thickness burn wound. The authors conclude that acticoat has an advantage of limiting the frequency of replacement of the dressing and provides a less painful alternative to wound care with 1% AgSD with comparable incidence of burn wound infection. This is due to its long wear time and the ease of application and removal.
Muangman
Pornprom
P
Burn Unit, Trauma Division, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. pmuangman@yahoo.com
Chuntrasakul
Chomchark
C
Silthram
Soranit
S
Suvanchote
Supaporn
S
Benjathanung
Rachanee
R
Kittidacha
Suchada
S
Rueksomtawin
Somphon
S
D000328:Adult; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001458:Bandages; D002056:Burns / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011091:Polyesters / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011095:Polyethylenes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012837:Silver Sulfadiazine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control
C117408:Acticoat; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D011091:Polyesters; D011095:Polyethylenes; D012837:Silver Sulfadiazine