The ancient Phoenicians didn't know it, but they were onto something when they used silver flasks for storage of wine and water on their seafaring expeditions. They simply noticed that both stayed fresher longer when stored in them instead of wooden barrels or ceramic jugs. Little did they know that they had discovered one of the most potent antimicrobial substances on the planet.
A few centuries later, Hippocrates used silver as a treatment for his patients. Silver also kept the nobility of Europe safe during the plague-ravaged Middle Ages, thanks to its use in the newly fashionable plates and forks. (Enough of it was ingested to give their skin a bluish tinge, hence the term "blue-blood.") More recently, Dr. William Halstead, considered the father of modern surgery, recommended the use of silver foil to prevent infection of surgical sites. His advice was followed as commonplace until the advances of antibiotics during World War II.
Today, silver is still used in medical treatment as an antimicrobial agent. It can be applied in an ointment, a colloidal suspension, or incorporated directly into a dressing, such as the award-winning Silverlon Negative Pressure Dressings (NPD) from Argentum Medical Products.
Silverlon is made from nylon that has been plated with silver on one side. Dressings made from it are placed directly on top of open wounds, ensuring round the clock delivery of silver ions to the site rather than fibers. Thanks to that improvement, there's no risk of the skin around the site turning blue.
Over 300 patient trials demonstrated Silverlon NPD's ability to help wounds to granulate 20%-40% more than negative pressure therapy alone. Silverlon Negative Pressure Dressings only need changing every five to seven days, decreasing treatment costs both in terms of materials and skilled nursing time visits. Older foam dressings used in negative pressure therapy had to be changed every three to five days. Just as frequently, they left particles in the wound that had to be picked out, disturbing the new tissue and causing patient discomfort. The nonstick qualities of the Silverlon eliminate that.
Its dual action flow ports, which are small strategically placed slits, allow for rapid fluid pass through, an advantage when moistening it on application or allowing drainage from a wound. A transparent top layer allows a clear view of the wound while eliminating the need to completely remove the dressing.
Silver has proven effective against MRSA and other antibiotic-resistant bacteria. One study of 40 patients with slow-to-heal wounds reported that even though the wounds treated with silver-plated NPDs were up to 20% larger than the ones treated with foam NPDs, they were healed within three months without infection.
In 2006, these improvements won the Silverlon Negative Pressure Dressing system the Frost and Sullivan award for product innovation.
The Silverlon NPDs come in a wide range of sizes and can be customized to fit wounds of any shape. While used frequently for dressing skin grafts or their donor sites, the Silverlon Negative Pressure Dressings are also used in the treatment of burns, lacerations, or dermal ulcers. They can additionally be used in the treatment of acute, traumatic, or dehisced wounds both in hospitals and by home health workers for outpatients.
Whether undergoing treatment at a health care facility or at home, Silverlon Negative Pressure Dressings combine the discoveries of the past with the innovations of today to ensure good treatment outcomes for a variety of issues.
Fran Jablway
and
Hulet Smith, OT
