It has long been known that silver is an effective antimicrobial. In fact, silver has been used as a topical antimicrobial agent for hundreds of years. In recent years, a large number of dressings containing silver compound or a compound that releases silver slowly over time have been developed, adding to the wound care dressing…

In this series, we’ve been discussing the many different types of wound dressings, in terms of indications and precautions. Let’s continue with a discussion of hydrocolloid wound dressings Hydrocolloids Hydrocolloid wound dressings contain hydrophilic (absorbing or distilling in water) colloidal particles, such as pectin, carboxymethylcellulose or gelatin.  These dressings absorb fluid slowly and turn into…

Continuing our review of dressings and their unique characteristics, let’s look at two other dressing types: alginates and composite dressings. Alginates Alginates are made from specific types of brown seaweed which contain alginic acid salts converted into sodium/calcium salts. They may be woven or nonwoven and look similar to cotton. These dressings, when placed in…

Continuing on in our discussion of wound dressings, let’s turn our attention to hydrogels and semipermeable foams. Hydrogels for Wound Care Hydrogels are water- or glycerin-based wound dressings that come in sheets, gels or impregnated gauzes. Hydrogels swell and are able to absorb small amounts of fluids. They are also able to add moisture to…

Consider the following question: How many wound management products are currently available on today’s market? a) 500 b) 1000 c) 2000 d) more than 3000 If you answered d), you’re correct. There are more than 3000 wound care products available today. It can be very confusing and intimidating for practitioners new to wound care (and…