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Published on: May 2, 2025
Comparison of antimicrobial activity of selected, commercially available wound dressing materials
Piotr Szweda1, Grzegorz Gorczyca2, Robert Tylingo3
1Adjunct; Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Gdansk University of Technology, ul. G. Narutowicza 11/12, 80-233 Gdańsk, Poland.
Objective:
The aim of our study was to examine the antimicrobial potential of eight selected, commercially available wound dressings containing different antimicrobial agents: silver, chlorhexidine acetate, povidone-iodine, and manuka honey.
Method:
The materials were tested against four reference strains of bacteria: Staphylococcus aureus (PCM 2051), Staphylococcus epidermidis (PCM 2118), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853), and Escherichia coli (K12), using the disc diffusion-like method and a time-killing assay.
Results:
For both experiments, the highest activity against all four tested strains of bacteria was observed in the case of Mepilex Ag, which contains silver as an antibacterial agent. Incubation for four hours of a 10x10mm2 piece of this material in 10ml cells suspension (concentration: 109-1010CFU/ml) resulted in complete elimination of bacteria of all four strains tested. The same results were obtained for a povidone-iodine containing dressing, Inadine, though its activity was lower in the disc diffusion assay. Silvercel, Aquacel Ag and Melgisorb Ag, which also contain silver, also exhibited a satisfactory level of activity. In the case of Aquacel Ag, 24 hours' incubation resulted in complete elimination of the cells of both Gram-negative bacteria, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.The Escherichia coli cells were killed after only four hours' treatment. High effectiveness against Escherichia coli was also demonstrated for Silvercel. However, 24 hours' includation was required for complete elimination of the cells of this bacteria strain. High activity against all tested bacteria, but only in the disc diffusion assay, was observed for Algivon, which contains manuka honey. The Medisorb Silver Pad, containing silver, and Bactigras, which contains chlorhexidine acetate, revealed much lower antimicrobial activity, particularly noticeable in the time-killing assay. In addition, we also tested the anti-staphylococcal activity of a biopolymer material impregnated with lysostaphin. Results revealed that its activity against Staphylococcus aureus was comparable to the most active wound dressings impregnated with silver or inadine.
Conclusion:
Some important differences in the antimicrobial potential of investigated materials have been found. The presented results could be of interest to clinicians managing wounds.
Insights
Silver-containing wound dressings, like Mepilex Ag, demonstrated the highest antimicrobial activity against common bacteria. Some povidone-iodine and manuka honey dressings also showed effectiveness, while chlorhexidine acetate had lower impact.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Biomaterials Science
- Wound Care Management
Background:
- Antimicrobial wound dressings are crucial for preventing and treating infections.
- Various antimicrobial agents, including silver, chlorhexidine acetate, povidone-iodine, and manuka honey, are incorporated into wound dressings.
- Evaluating the comparative efficacy of these dressings is essential for clinical decision-making.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess and compare the antimicrobial potential of eight commercially available wound dressings.
- To determine the effectiveness of different antimicrobial agents (silver, chlorhexidine acetate, povidone-iodine, manuka honey) against specific bacterial strains.
Main Methods:
- Testing eight wound dressings with varying antimicrobial agents against four reference bacterial strains: Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli.
- Utilizing the disc diffusion-like method and a time-killing assay to evaluate antimicrobial activity.
Main Results:
- Mepilex Ag (silver) exhibited the highest antimicrobial activity, eradicating all four bacterial strains within four hours.
- A povidone-iodine dressing (Inadine) showed comparable results, though with lower disc diffusion activity.
- Other silver dressings (Silvercel, Aquacel Ag, Melgisorb Ag) displayed satisfactory activity, with Aquacel Ag fully eliminating Gram-negative bacteria in 24 hours.
- Manuka honey (Algivon) showed high activity in disc diffusion but not in time-killing assays.
- Chlorhexidine acetate (Bactigras) and a silver dressing (Medisorb Silver Pad) demonstrated significantly lower antimicrobial activity, especially in the time-killing assay.
- A lysostaphin-impregnated biopolymer showed comparable anti-Staphylococcus aureus activity to silver or povidone-iodine dressings.
Conclusions:
- Significant variations exist in the antimicrobial efficacy of investigated wound dressings.
- Silver-based dressings, particularly Mepilex Ag, appear highly effective against a broad spectrum of bacteria.
- Clinical selection of wound dressings should consider the specific antimicrobial agent and its demonstrated efficacy.
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