Efficacy of a gelling-fibre dressing and a gelling-fibre dressing with silver nanoparticles at controlling exudate and infection: a 4-week multicentre clinical evaluation.

Background: Suprasorb Liquacel Pro (standard test dressing) and Suprasorb Liquacel Ag (test dressing with silver nanoparticles) are absorptive gelling-fibre dressings designed to manage wound exudate levels and promote moist wound healing, with the latter having additional antimicrobial properties.

Aims: To assess the impact of the test dressing on healing, exudate levels and signs of infection.

Methods: Patients with moderately-to-highly exuding hard-to-heal wounds of any type were dressed with the standard test dressing or the test dressing with silver nanoparticles if they showed covert or overt signs of local infection. Comparative data were collected at baseline and 4-week conclusion. Adverse events and patient and professional opinions were also reported and collated.

Findings: There were 19 patients with lower-limb wounds of various types present for a mean of 26 months. At baseline, most wounds were deteriorating or static (68%), while at conclusion most were improving or healed (84%), with additional indicators of improved healing. The number of patients with moderate-to-high exudate levels decreased from 84% to 53%. The 15 patients using the test dressing with silver nanoparticles saw reductions in covert signs of infection from 93% to 80%, overt signs of infection from 33% to 13% and antibiotic use from 13% to 7%.

Conclusions: On average, the test dressings were effective in managing and reducing the barriers to healing, including high exudate, infection and biofilm, and in restarting stalled healing.