Antimicrobial dressings for the management of wound infection

Since wounds are broken skin with the loss of normal skin functions, the invasion of bacteria becomes a serious problem in wound healing. Wounds exude a large amount of fluid, which is warm and contains a variety of nutritional components that can benefit bacterial growth. Wound infection and cross-infection commonly occur in hospital wards. These infections complicate patient illness, cause anxiety, increase patient discomfort, and in the worst cases can lead to death of the patient. 

Depending on the level of bacteria colonization, wound infection can be classified into the following stages. 

Wound contamination the presence of bacteria within a wound without any host reaction. 

Wound colonization the presence of bacteria within the wound which do multiply or initiate a host reaction. 

Critical colonization multiplication of bacteria causing a delay in wound healing, usually associated with an exacerbation of pain but with no overt host reaction. 

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In developing antimicrobial dressings to manage wonnd infection, it should be noted that since wound dressings are directly in contact with a broken skin, there are strict requirements for the type of applicable antimicrobial materials. In particular, these materials should meet the following requirements. 

The purpose of antimicrobials in medical textiles such as wound dressings is to eithCT prevent infection from occurring or to contribute to the healing of infected wounds, and odour control is a subsidiary effect whereas, the inclusion of activated charcoal in wound dressings is specifically to manage odour. Activated charcoal cloth (ACC) is sandwiched/encapsulated between two layers of a polyamide nonwoven fabric. The ACC with silver has to be in close contact with the wound s surface in order for the silver ions to react with the bacteria causing the infection (Mcqueen, 2011). 

Antimicrobial fibers can be mixed with traditional textile materials to produce antimicrobial wound dressings. For example, Silvercel from Johnson Johnson combines the potent broad-spectrum antimicrobial action of a silver-coated nylon fiber with the enhanced exudate-management properties of alginate fibers. Because of the sustained release of silver ions, the dressing acts as an effective barrier and helps reduce infection. As shown in Figure 11.2, the antimicrobial properties are built in through the use of X-Static silver-coated fibers blended into the nonwoven structure. 

Other types of naturally occurring compounds have also danonstrated their antimicrobial efficacy. For example, honey can be used for managing wound infections mastic gum can be used for helicobacter pylori gastric ulcers aud cranberry juice cau be used for urinary-tract infections. Safe and effective antimicrobial wound dressings can be developed by the appropriate incorporation of these novel types of naturally occurring compounds. 

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