Silver coated dressings

Trop M, Novak M, Rodl S, Hellbom B, Kroell W, Goessler W. Silver-coated dressing acticoat caused raised liver enzymes and argyria-like symptoms in burn patient. J Trauma 2006 60(3) 648-52. 

Innes M.E., Umraw N., Fish J.S., Gomez M., and Cartotto R.C. 2001. The use of silver coated dressings on donor site wounds a prospective, controlled matched pair study. Bums 27 621-627. 

Tredget, E.E., Shankowsl, H.A., Groeneveld, A. et al. (1998) A matched-pair, randomized study evaluating the efficacy and safety of Acticoat silver-coated dressing for the treatment of burn wounds. The Journal of Bum Care and Rehabilitation, 19(6), 531-7. 

Argyria and hepatotoxicity has been reported after the use of a silver-coated wound dressing, Acticoat, in the treatment of 30% mixed depth bums in a 17-year-old boy (21). Silver concentrations were high in the plasma (107 pg/kg) and urine (28 pg/kg). 

A number of kinds of active dressings have been developed that take advantage of surface and/or colloidal principles and systems. Some of them are fairly simple. For example, silver-coated fibres have been used to contribute antimicrobial and antifungal properties into bioactive fibre bandages, which work through direct contact with wound exudate [48,49]. 

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. 

Most electroless silver appHcations are for silvering glass or metallizing record masters. Mirror production is the principal usage for electroless silver. The glass support is cleaned, catalyzed using a two-step catalyst, and coated on one side with an opaque silver film (46). Silver-plated nylon cloth is used as a bacteriostatic wound dressing. A tiny current appHed to the cloth causes slow silver dissolution. The silver acts as a bactericide (47). 

Shellac is dark in colour, and is usually dyed black, red or brown. Its best known uses were as gramophone records. Another use was for American Union cases, which were small boxes used as folding picture frames (Fig. 13.1). They could be closed to preserve the silver nitrate coated glass photo des called Daguerreotypes, which deteriorate in the h t. Shellac was also used fin dressing table sets and for brooches. It is a britde material and can crack or chip. Shellac is compression moulded, and is still produced today. 

Antimicrobial properties of silver have been known and utilized for centuries. It is well established that only silver ions are antimicro-bially active, while elemental silver is not. Many biomedical devices have been coated with silver and/or silver compounds for antimicrobial purposes. The applications of surfaces treated with silver or its compounds include devices such as topical wound dressings, urinary catheters, endotracheal tubes, cardiac valves, etc.72 Electroless deposition of silver or its compounds can quite successfully be used for coating of biomedical devices. 

Silver is used in dressing material for topical treatment of burns and chronic woxmds owing to its property of reducing or preventing infection [227 ]. However, its application in heart valve and coating for orthopaedic hardware has either been unsuccessful or remains unproven [228 ]. Further, limited reports of silver-induced allergic skin manifestation in occupationally exposed patients have also been published [229 ]. 

Silverlon is a knitted fabric dressing that has been silver-plated by a chemical plating technique through reduction and oxidation. This technique coats the entire surface of each individual fiber from which the dressing is made, resulting in a very large surface area for the release of ionic silver. 

Even Chichikov s feet are ensconced in dandyish lacquered half-boots with mother-of-pearl fastenings. To round out the picture a sky-blue neck-cloth. . . the latest word in false shirt-fronts. .. a velvet waistcoat an enamelled silver snuffbox and, finally, a cranberry-colored dress coat with spangles. He held forth as though he were at court —such tact and decorum. ... 

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