[Dressings impregnated in antibacterial agent: multicenter study on acute and chronic wounds, with Atrauman Ag]

Ulcers and chronic wounds are an ideal medium for bacterial growth. This growth occurs in both number and variety of species, resulting in lesions with polymicrobial flora. The use of antimicrobial treatments to control and/or prevention of infection is discussed. Silver dressings as an alternative safe and effective for treating infected wounds and/or in situations of critical colonization. There are already evidence of what kind of silver-containing dressings are more cost-effective. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and effectiveness of Atrauman Ag dressing in the treatment of skin lesions in acute and chronic, as to the resolution of signs of infection and progression of healing during a period of four weeks.

we performed an observational, prospective, multicenter open study where the patient inclusion period was from April to August 2007. The sample consisted of patients seen giving their informed consent in primary care centers, health centers and hospitals throughout the country and met the inclusion criteria and had none of the exclusion criteria. The study variables were collected sociodemographic, injury-related variables to study with the dressing and the ratings of professionals and patients. The values of each variable were collected weekly in a CRD. The recorded data are processed in a database originally composed of 116 variables, which were analyzed with SPSS software.

we evaluated 219 patients finally included 147 who met the inclusion criteria and no exclusion. At the end of the study had chronic injuries granulation tissue in 84.8% and 100% acute wounds with statistically significant differences with respect to the initial assessment. Exudate levels in wounds evaluated at 4 weeks of treatment show a significant reduction, from exudate abundant or very abundant in 81.8% to a level of low or moderate exudate in 80.5% of the cases end of the study The evolution of clinical signs of infection by 87% (n=91) of the lesions disappeared after 4 weeks. 11.7% of lesions were healed in the study period. In the case of chronic wounds, we go from a median of 17.5 cm2 to 9.9 cm2, this means a relative reduction of 39.05% and a speed of 1. 12 cm2/week healing. In the case of acute wounds, a move from a median of 8.25 cm2 to 3.0 cm2 and a relative reduction of 65.03% with a healing rate of 2.28 cm2/week, with statistically significant differences both cases. The permeability of the dressing exudate was evaluated as good or very good in 88% of cases and the perilesional skin care by 79.9% as good or very good. The pain in the wounds was evaluated as nothing or very little, in 72% of cases.