Effect on bacterial load of a DACC-coated dressing as a wound contact layer in negative pressure wound therapy

Dialkylcarbamoyl chloride (DACC)-coated dressing is a hydrophobic material that absorbs exudate and binds the bacteria within it to the dressing. This property has led to the use of DACC-coated dressings for a wide range of wounds. However, the bacterial load binding capacity in this dressing used with negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) has not been evaluated, to the best of the authors' knowledge. The aim of this study was to examine bacterial loads at the wound surface in the use of NPWT with a DACC-coated dressing as a wound contact layer.

A single-centre study was performed in patients with skin ulcers who had received a split-thickness skin graft (STSG). Each skin ulcer was divided into two comparable regions, one covered with a DACC-coated dressing (Sorbact Compress; Abigo Medical AB, Sweden) (DACC group) and the other with silicone gauze (control group). NPWT was used to fix the STSG. Swab samples were collected from the wound surface and the number of bacterial colony-forming units (CFUs) was measured to assess bacterial load on the day of surgery (day 0) and upon NPWT removal on day 7 postoperatively. Skin graft survival rates were compared between the two groups.

The experimental cohort comprised 15 patients, yielding 15 paired regions per group (DACC and control). On day 0, there was no difference in the number of CFUs between the control and DACC groups (p= 0.136). However, on day 7, the DACC group had a lower CFU count than the control group (p= 0.0175). The skin graft survival rate did not differ significantly between the two groups (p= 0.938).

In this study, use of a DACC-coated dressing reduced bacterial growth when using NPWT. This suggests that this combination treatment might contribute to the promotion of wound healing.