Use of vacuum-assisted wound closure to manage limb wounds in patients suffering from acute necrotizing fasciitis.

Background: An effective regimen to treat patients suffering from acute necrotizing fasciitis requires surgical removal of devitalized tissues, systemic administration of broad antimicrobials and ameliorating underlying systemic disease processes. The task of managing wounds consequential to surgical debridement, on the other hand, can be difficult. We had the opportunity of using a vacuum-assisted wound closure (VAC) technique in 12 patients with non-healing wounds in either the upper or the lower limb because of acute necrotizing fasciitis.

Control of wound infections using a bilayer chitosan wound dressing with sustainable antibiotic delivery.

A novel bilayer chitosan membrane was prepared by a combined wet/dry phase inversion method and evaluated as a wound dressing. This new type of bilayer chitosan wound dressing, consisting of a dense upper layer (skin layer) and a sponge-like lower layer (sublayer), is very suitable for use as a topical delivery of silver sulfadiazine (AgSD) for the control of wound infections. Physical characterization of the bilayer wound dressing showed that it has excellent oxygen permeability, that it controls the water vapor transmission rate, and that it promotes water uptake capability.