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J Med Microbiol 55 (2006), 59-63; DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.46124-0
© 2006 Society for General Microbiology
ISSN 0022-2615

Antimicrobial activities of silver dressings: an in vitro comparison

Margaret Ip1, Sau Lai Lui1, Vincent K. M. Poon2, Ivan Lung2 and Andrew Burd2

Department of Microbiology1 and Department of Surgery2 , Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong

Correspondence
Margaret Ip
margaretip{at}cuhk.edu.hk

Received 19 April 2005
Accepted 31 August 2005

A range of silver-coated or -impregnated dressings are now commercially available for use but comparative data on their antimicrobial efficacies are limited. The antibacterial activities of five commercially available silver-coated/impregnated dressings were compared against nine common burn-wound pathogens, namely methicillin-sensitive and -resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter cloacae, Proteus vulgaris, Acinetobacter baumannii and a multi-drug-efflux-positive Acinetobacter baumannii (BM4454), using a broth culture method. The rapidity and extent of killing of these pathogens under in vitro conditions were evaluated. All five silver-impregnated dressings investigated exerted bactericidal activity, particularly against Gram-negative bacteria, including Enterobacter species, Proteus species and E. coli. The spectrum and rapidity of action, however, ranged widely for different dressings. Acticoat and Contreet had a broad spectrum of bactericidal activities against both Gram-positive and -negative bacteria. Contreet was characterized by a very rapid bactericidal action and achieved a reduction of >=10 000 c.f.u. ml–1 in the first 30 min for Enterobacter cloacae, Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumanii. Other dressings demonstrated a narrower range of bactericidal activities. Understanding the characteristics of these dressings may enable them to be targeted more appropriately according to the specific requirements for use of a particular dressing, as in for prophylaxis in skin grafting or for an infected wound with MRSA.




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