A Comparison of Three Silver-containing Dressings in the Treatment of Infected, Chronic Wounds.

Unlabelled: Objective. To compare 3 types of silver dressing in the typical clinical conditions of a community health center, regarding the time to achieve resolution of clinical signs of local infection, and wound healing progress over 8 weeks.
Methods: A prospective, comparative study involving 75 patients with infected chronic wounds who were divided into 3 treatment groups: Acticoat™ (group 1); Comfeel® Ag hydrocolloid/Biatain® Ag polyurethane foam (group 2); and Aquacel® Ag (group 3).
Results: The groups were comparable at baseline. Clinical signs of infection were resolved faster in group 1 than in the other two groups (P <0.05, median: group 1 = 2 weeks; group 2 = 4 weeks; group 3 = 4 weeks. Group 1 required fewer treatments to eliminate the clinical signs of infection (median: group 1 = 6 treatments; group 2 = 12 treatments; group 3 = 12 treatments). Patients in group 1 healed faster than patients in the other 2 groups (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: The treatment in group 1 was more effective than that of groups 2 and 3 in the treatment of infected, chronic wounds. Clinical signs of infection were resolved faster (P < 0.05) and wounds healed more quickly (P < 0.05) in group 1 than in the other 2 groups. .