Investigating the Antimicrobial, Antibiofilm and Physical Properties of a Silver Alginate Dressing
A Silver Alginate dressing consisting of a non-woven pad composed of calcium alginate and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) blend has been developed. The device assists in maintaining a moist wound environment due to its ability to form a gel when in contact with wound exudate, thus facilitating optimal wound healing. The product is indicated for moderate to heavily exuding partial to full thickness wounds including but not limited to, leg ulcers, pressure ulcers, diabetic ulcers, post-operative wounds and 1st and 2nd degree burns. The following study aims to investigate several parameters i.e. antimicrobial activity, antibiofilm performance, and physical properties in order to demonstrate the products key attributes.
The antimicrobial activity was performed in accordance with AATCC TM-100 guidelines, against several common wound isolates including MRSE, MRSA, and E.coli. The antibiofilm properties of the dressing were assessed utilising in-vitro tests developed in - house, based on the colony biofilm method, in order to demonstrate the products prevention and eradication properties against a mature biofilm, using clinically relevant wound microorganisms. The physical properties evaluated consisted of absorbency and tensile strength and were performed in accordance with test methods aligned to international standards.
The data obtained indicates the Silver Alginate Dressing to be efficacious against a broad range of microbial wound isolates over a 7 day period, under conditions of clinical use. The antibiofilm data demonstrates the device to be effective at preventing a mature biofilm to be established, in addition to effectively disrupting a formed biofilm. The assessment of the critical design features i.e. absorbency and tensile strength, clearly demonstrate the product to effectively perform to the set specifications.
The study has enabled a number of properties associated with the dressing to be assessed, which will be useful when determining an effective and appropriate wound care treatment.
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