Effect of Aquacel Ag+ Extra Dressing on Wound Bacterial Biofilms
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The Effect of Aquacel Ag+ Extra Dressing on Wound Bacterial Biofilms
IRAS ID
130521
Contact name
Andrew McBain
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The University of Manchester
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
NCT02228122., the ClinicalTrials.gov. http://clinicaltrials.gov database
Research summary
Chronic wounds can be costly, resulting in prolonged hospital stays and an increased risk of secondary infection and septicaemia (blood poisoning). In the UK the management of chronic venous leg ulcers is estimated to cost £1 billion/year.
Chronic wounds rapidly become colonised with a variety of bacteria which have been cited as a factor in delayed healing.
Biofilm is a term which refers to a group of bacteria growing on a surface and is often accompanied by the production of a bacterial slime layer. These bacterial slime layers have been associated with a variety of medically significant infections e.g. dental caries, catheter associated infections and endocarditis. Biofilms may be of significance in chronic wounds as they can cause an increased resistance to; antibiotics and physical removal by washing of the site and the immune response.
Whilst work has shown how effective wound dressing which contain antimicrobial agents are against bacterial organisms, little work has been undertaken to assess the effect of dressings on wound bacterial biofilms (slime layers).
Wound debridement is a procedure in which dead and/or infected tissue is removed in an attempt to reduce the bacterial load and induce the healing process. This study aims to analyse these tissue samples to assess the effect of Aquacel Ag+ Extra bacterial biofilms.
REC name
London - Fulham Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/LO/0191
Date of REC Opinion
22 Jan 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion