Nanocrystalline Silver Layer of Knitted Polyester Outperforms Other Silver-Containing Wound Dressings in an In Vitro Wound Model

BackgroundSilver possesses cytotoxic properties against many microorganisms and is regularly used in wound care. Current evidence supporting the use of one type of silver-containing wound dressing (SCWD) is insufficient.Materials and methodsTo examine the ability of selected SCWDs to inhibit the growth of two strains of bacteria (Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus) commonly found in wounds, an in vitro wound model was used. Bacteria were applied to the surface of nutrient agar, and a piece of each SCWD was applied to the bacteria. The plates were incubated at 37°C overnight. The zone of inhibition (ZI) around each SCWD was measured in cm2.ResultsThe mean ZI for Acticoat Flex-3 on E. coli was 1.59 ± 0.15 cm2, which was significantly greater than that observed for Aquacel Ag (p