Antimicrobial silver/sodium carboxymethyl cotton dressings for burn wounds

Antimicrobial Ag/Na carboxymethyl cotton burn dressings are developed by partial cation exchange of sodium by silver from sodium carboxymethyl cotton gauze/nonwovens through treatment with silver nitrate in an 85/15 ethanol/water medium. The ethanol/water medium is necessary to preserve the fibrous form of carboxymethyl gauze/nonwovens with a degree of substitution of 0.3 to 0.4. From the behavior of antimicrobial release and the suppression of bacterial and fungal proliferation, it is apparent that the dressings containing the silver antimicrobial agent will protect wound surfaces from microbial invasion and effectively suppress bacterial proliferation. Antimicrobial evaluations of Ag/Na carboxymethyl cotton at North American Science Associates and the Southern Regional Research Center are positive. Additionally, the results show that an enhanced burn treatment is possible using a highly moisture retentive sodium carboxymethyl gauze instead of conventional gauze now used with silver nitrate. The carboxymethyl gauze's capacity to hold a large amount of antimicrobial solution creates the possibility for better antimicrobial treatment. The retention of a greater amount of silver nitrate solution on the dressing will require less replenishment of solution on dressings on patients, which will reduce nursing time.