Clinical Problem: A 65 year old female with a history of venous insufficiency presents with wounds of the left lateral and medial malleolus. Patient's history includes chronic arthritis, hypertension, hypothyroidism, immobility and left malleolus wounds x 2 years. Patient was hospitalized with gastrointestinal bleed and severe anemia. Past wound culture showed MRSA in wounds with questionable pseudomonas. A WOC nurse was consulted for wound care.

Description of Past Management: Past wound treatment included conservative debridement, daily wet to dry dressings or weekly compression therapy that were found unsuccessful.

Current Clinical Approach: The plan of treatment included silver polymeric membrane dressing along with weekly compression therapy. Polymeric membrane dressing selection was based on the condition of the wound and can be used up to 7 days. Silver polymeric membrane dressings have been tested and found to eliminate 99.9% of the following organisms: Staphylococcus Aureus both MRSA and Non-MRSA, Enterococcus Faecalis (VRE), Klebsiella Pneumoniae, Pseudomonas Aeruginosa and Candida Albicans.

Patient Outcome: The wound was healed within 6 weeks after initiation of management with silver polymeric membrane dressings.

Conclusion: Silver polymeric membrane dressings eliminated bacteria to the wound bed and enhanced wound healing. This type of dressing can be used successfully with or without compression therapy.