A comparison of the in vitro moisture vapour transmission rate and in vivo fluid-handling capacity of six adhesive foam dressings to a newly reformulated adhesive foam dressing.

This study compared moisture vapour transmission rate (MVTR) and wear time or fluid-handling capacities of six adhesive foam dressings to a reformulated control dressing. Standardised in vitro MVTR methodology and a previously published in vivo artificial wound model (AWM) were used. Mean inverted MVTR for the reformulated dressing was 12 750 g/m(2) /24 hours and was significantly higher than four of the six comparator dressings (P < 0·0001), which ranged from 830 to 11 360 g/m(2) /24 hours.

A new in vivo test method to compare wound dressing fluid handling characteristics and wear time.

A refined in vivo artificial wound model utilizing artificial wound fluid (AWF) was developed to overcome important limitations such as adhesive-skin interactions, movement, pressure, shear, and varying environmental conditions in in vitro models. Using this model, a study with primary endpoints of wear time and fluid handling capacity was conducted to compare two foam dressings: a high performance (HPF) dressing and an adhesive dressing (AAF). A 10-cm(2) artificial wound bed, created using a nonstick absorbent pad, was applied to the lower back of 24 healthy volunteers and the tip of a 23-gauge catheter was inserted into the pad to administer AWF.

An economic evaluation of four skin damage prevention regimens in nursing home residents with incontinence: economics of skin damage prevention.

Purpose: To determine the cost and efficacy of 4 different regimens of incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD) prevention in nursing home residents.

Methods: A multi-site open-label quasi-experimental study was conducted in 16 nursing homes stratified by location in 1 of 4 regions of the United States and randomly selected. In 3 of the 4 regimens, a moisture barrier ointment or cream of different compositions was applied after each episode of incontinence, and in 1 regimen, a polymer-based barrier film was applied 3 times per week.

Incontinence-associated skin damage in nursing home residents: a secondary analysis of a prospective, multicenter study.

More than half of the nursing home population is incontinent of urine or feces, presenting challenges to perineal skin health. To determine the occurrence and severity of skin damage in nursing home residents with incontinence, a secondary analysis of data collected from a multisite, open-label, quasi-experimental study of cost and efficacy of four regimens for preventing incontinence-associated dermatitis in nursing home residents was performed. Sixteen randomly selected nursing homes from across the US were included in the study.

Economic comparison of methods of wound closure: wound closure strips vs. sutures and wound adhesives.

Our objective was to review and assess the treatment of low-tension wounds and evaluate the cost-effectiveness of wound closure methods. We used a health economic model to estimate cost/closure of adhesive wound closure strips, tissue adhesives and sutures. The model incorporated cost-driving variables: application time, costs and the likelihood and costs of dehiscence and infection.

Assessment of diaper-clogging potential of petrolatum moisture barriers.

Petrolatum-based ointments often are used to treat and prevent incontinence dermatitis. However, anecdotal reports indicate that petrolatum ointments may affect the absorbency of disposable briefs also commonly used in incontinence management. To examine whether petrolatum ointments clog a commonly used absorbent brief, a randomized, balanced-block design study was conducted in a controlled laboratory setting to compare the brief-clogging potential of three petrolatum ointments to a non-alcohol barrier film.

A comparison of cost and efficacy of three incontinence skin barrier products.

Maintaining healthy, intact perineal skin in nursing home residents with incontinence is a challenge. Their condition puts them at risk for developing incontinence dermatitis, possibly predisposing them to develop pressure ulcers. To examine the cost-effectiveness of three perineal skin barriers (a polymer-based barrier film and two petrolatum ointments) used to prevent incontinence dermatitis, a 6-month descriptive study was conducted among residents (N = 250) from four long-term care facilities (nursing homes) in the upper Midwestern US.