Statement of Clinical Problem: Immunosuppression is a major medical challenge facing the transplant patients. Medications used to treat transplant patients often diminish the immune cell function, increasing the risk of wound infections. One of our main goals of care is to prevent the wound from becoming infected, especially with pseudomonas and MRSA. We need a product which will decrease the frequency of dressing changes and decrease the bioburden of the wound to help prevent recurrent hospitalizations from infection. Decreasing pain is also a goal in health care. This poster will address the use of silver polymeric dressings* to increase wound healing, prevent infection and minimize pain, thereby improving outcomes in 3 kidney transplant patients.

Description of past management: These patients would otherwise be managed using normal saline dressings or oxychlorosene moist dressings.

Current Clinical Approach: Patients with open wounds post kidney transplants will be managed during their hospitalization using silver polymeric membrane dressings. After the wound is irrigated with normal saline, silver polymeric membrane wound filler** will be placed into the wound and covered with a standard silver polymeric membrane dressing. Dressings will be changed when saturated, as evidenced by the change in color of the outer dressing.

Conclusion: Silver polymeric membrane dressings provide an excellent barrier against bacteria in wounds and enhanced reepitheliazation. While our case series are on-going, preliminary test patient results show a decrease in wound infections in the transplant population, ease of use for staff and patients/ family, decreased pain, no readmissions for wound infections and improved quality of care. Results will be presented on the rate of infection, ease of application, management of exudates, rate of healing and pain using the 0-10 scale, both during and between dressing changes.

*PolyMem Silver®

**PolyMem Silver Cavity Filler®