Clinical experience with an antimicrobial hydrogel dressing on recalcitrant wounds.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the performance of a newly-introduced, iodine-based antimicrobial wound dressing (Iodozyme) within normal clinical practice.


METHODS
51 case records were collected from 30 wound care locations in England. Reporting clinicians used Iodozyme on one or more difficult wounds of their own choice (of various aetiologies) from their current case loads. Basic patient-specific data were collected, relating to both their own and their patients' experience with the product over a 6-week period of treatment (or less, if healing was achieved earlier). In every case, the wound continued to be treated in accordance with local 'best practice', in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and by the same clinician. Each wound was assessed in terms of size, condition (margins and wound bed), exudate (type and amount), comfort/pain, overall satisfaction (by patient and clinician) and healing status (in terms of healed, improved, static or deteriorated). In addition, clinicians were asked to use their own local criteria and parameters where possible, with general guidance as and when it was needed.


RESULTS
The mean duration of all wounds was 25.8 months (median 13 and range 1-312). Nine patients had a wound of less than six months' duration, and 17 had one of two years' or more duration. Within the 6-week study period, 6 wounds healed fully, 37 were judged to have improved, 7 remained static and 1 deteriorated. Overall, the majority of clinicians and patients were 'satisfied' or 'very satisfied' with product performance and 77% of clinicians concluded that the dressing was 'better' or 'much better' than other dressings they had previously used on similar wounds.


CONCLUSIONS
While we cannot generalise from this study, the encouraging clinical results and positive patient and clinician feedback lead us to believe that Iodozyme is a dressing worthy of consideration when treating chronic wounds. These encouraging preliminary findings are now to be followed up with a randomised control trial.
Wood
L
L
Archimed Wound Care Division, Insense, Bedford. UK.
Wood
Z
Z
Davis
P
P
Wilkins
J
J
D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D047070:Bandages, Hydrocolloid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D005949:Glucose Oxidase / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011193:Potassium Iodide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017592:Skin Care / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*
D004338:Drug Combinations; D011193:Potassium Iodide; D005949:Glucose Oxidase