Plasticized polyvinyl chloride film as a primary burns dressing: a microbiological study

Twenty-four patients were studied after the application of plasticized polyvinyl chloride (PVC) film as a temporary burns dressing. The burns were assessed as being partial thickness (nine patients) and full thickness (15 patients) in depth and involving 2 per cent to 35 per cent of the body surface area. Microbiological cultures were performed on the exudate beneath the plasticized PVC film and then at each dressing change until the burn was healed. Bacterial isolates showed no unexpected organisms and there was no predominant organism to suggest contamination from the plasticized PVC film. Indeed, bacteria were only rarely isolated from the initial exudate (three of 37 burn wounds), and subsequent bacterial cultures did not differ from those normally found in burn wounds. In addition, incorporation of the plasticized PVC film into nutrient broth and agar with Staph, aureus and Ps. aeruginosa did not influence the recovery of these organisms, indicating that plasticized PVC film does not exert any antibacterial effect.