Using Objective Measurements to Evaluate Reduction in Inflammation and Bioburden Response to Application of a Fibrous Silver Oxysalt Dressing

Purpose/Objective: Bioburden wound management is often accomplished using an antimicrobial agent. One of the most popular agents, silver, is available in several chemical and physical forms – each of which affects biocidal and biofilm disruption activity. Fibrous silver oxysalt dressings (FSODs) have demonstrated decreased bioburden via lower bioburden assessment tool scores¹ and wound surface area reductions in unblinded case series^1,2 reports. It is unknown how, if at all, FSODs impact inflammation.

Method: Ten certified wound nurses (CWNs), blinded to the topical agent used, evaluate standard and wound thermography serial photographs of wounds with different etiologies receiving a FSOD* over a two-week period.  Bioburden is determined using the visual Bioburden Assessment Tool³. Wound thermography evaluations, a direct measure of wound bed and peri-wound inflammation⁴, are done concurrently.

Results: WCNs are able to objectively determine responses to a fibrous silver oxysalt dressing application in a variety of wounds using wound thermography and standard wound photos using a bioburden assessment tool.

Conclusion: Fibrous silver oxysalt dressings can impact bioburden, wound bed and peri-wound inflammation when applied over a two-week period.  Use of objective measurements, such as wound thermography in conjunction with completion of a bioburden scale can be beneficial to guide topical wound treatment. Further study is warranted.

*KerraContact™Ag, Crawford Healthcare, Ltd., Doylestown, Pa.