Effect of Hydrofiber wound dressings on bacterial ultrastructure

Ionic silver has well-proven bactericidal properties, and silver-containing wound dressings are now widely used to aid in the creation of an antimicrobial environment in wounds. The effect of silver ions on bacterial ultrastructure can best be studied by viewing bacterial cells under a transmission electron microscope (TEM). Bacterial cells of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were incubated within a control dressing (e.g. a non-antimicrobial Hydrofiber dressing) (Hydrofiber is a registered trademark of E.R. Squibb and Sons, L.L.C.) and a silver-containing Hydrofiber dressing, followed by processing for TEM. Liquid cultures, with and without silver, were prepared for comparison. The addition of silver to growing bacterial cultures stopped growth of the cells very quickly. Ultrastructurally, the presence of silver was found to affect both the shape of the bacterial nucleoid and the organization of bacterial DNA. X-ray microanalysis of bacteria from liquid cultures showed the presence of silver within silver-treated cells and the absence of calcium. It is suggested that the presence of available silver ions within the Hydrofiber dressing could lead to the loss of cellular ions, vital for maintaining the structural integrity of the nuclear area.