ConvaTec, a world-leading developer and marketer of innovative medical technologies for community and hospital care, announced today the launch of AQUACEL® and AQUACEL® Ag Dressings with Strengthening Fibre, two new advanced ribbon dressings, 2cm x 45cm, in the U.K. Up to 20 times stronger than the original ribbon dressings,[i] the improved wound dressings also offer reduced shrinkage along with the unique gelling benefits of Hydrofiber® technology, featured across the entire AQUACEL® dressing range.1,2

The added strength of the new AQUACEL® and AQUACEL® Ag ribbon dressings makes them ideal for use in packing a wide variety of cavity wounds, such as post surgical wounds, excised abscesses, pilonidal sinuses and stage III and stage IV pressure ulcers. In addition, AQUACEL® Ag dressing provides the broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties of ionic silver, which kills a broad range of pathogens in the dressing, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) as demonstrated in vitro.3 A comparative in vitro testing of existing products showed new AQUACEL® and AQUACEL® Ag (Ribbon) Dressings have greater wet tensile strength - the measure of force necessary to break the dressing when wet - than major competitors tested.4

Claire Acton, Tissue Viability Nurse Manager, Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital, welcomed the launch of the new AQUACEL® and AQUACEL® Ag ribbon dressings in the UK. "Having dressings that manage wound exudate, protect the surrounding skin and treat infection are important. The added strength of the new dressings gives healthcare professionals increased confidence that the dressings will not break on removal; an important consideration when dressing cavity wounds. In addition, the gelling action of the Hydrofiber® technology within the dressings means reduced pain for the patient on removal."

The performance of AQUACEL® and AQUACEL® Ag dressings is driven by Hydrofiber® technology. These dressings gel on contact with wound fluid to provide a moist wound healing environment, help manage exudate, help protect the periwound skin5 and reduce pain in situ and on removal.6,7,8 With the inclusion of ionic silver, AQUACEL® Ag dressing provides on demand antimicrobial activity, responding to increased bacteria with increased silver ion availability.3,9** AQUACEL® Ag dressing starts killing a broad spectrum of pathogens, including MRSA, within 30 minutes of application3 and can provide sustained antimicrobial activity for up to 14 days.9

AQUACEL® and AQUACEL® Ag Dressings have been studied in numerous randomized clinical trials across a variety of chronic and acute wounds, including pressure ulcers, leg ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers, partial thickness (second degree) burns and surgical incisions.

The unique Hydrofiber® technology contained within AQUACEL® and AQUACEL® Ag Dressings is manufactured at ConvaTec's global production facility based in Rhymney in the UK.

About new AQUACEL® and AQUACEL® Ag (Ribbon) Dressings??¦

AQUACEL®/AQUACEL® Ag Dressing with Strengthening Fibre is composed of a nonwoven Hydrofiber® web (as per AQUACEL® Ag) that is reinforced with lyocell yarn stitch bonded in both vertical and horizontal directions.

In vitro testing demonstrates that new AQUACEL® and AQUACEL® Ag ribbon dressings are 20 times stronger with 25% less shrinkage, compared to the original AQUACEL® and AQUACEL® Ag ribbon dressings.1

About exudates

As described in the 2007 World Union of Wound Healing Societies consensus document, Principles of best practice: Wound exudate and the role of dressings, exudate is derived from fluid that has leaked out of blood vessels and closely resembles blood plasma. In a wound the initial healing process involves the injury becoming inflamed, so that the blood vessels leak more fluid. The excess fluid enters the wound where it forms the basis of exudate. In a healing wound, exudate production generally reduces over time. In a wound that is not healing as expected, exudate production may continue and be excessive due to ongoing inflammatory or other processes.10

Wound exudate is often misconceived as 'bad.' In fact, exudate is known to assist healing by: preventing the wound bed from drying out, aiding the migration of tissue-repair cells, providing essential nutrients for cell metabolism, enabling the diffusion of immune and growth factors, and assisting separation of dead or damaged tissue.10

References

[1]. Aquacel® and Aquacel Ag® with Strengthening Fibre. Report No.WHRI 3178 TA 155. October 31, 2008. Data on File, ConvaTec.

2. Walker M, Hobot JA, Newman GR, Bowler PG. Scanning electron microscopic examination of bacterial immobilisation in a carboxymethyl cellulose (Aquacel®) and alginate dressings. Biomaterials. 2003;24:883-890.

3. Jones SA, Bowler PG, Walker M, Parsons D. Controlling wound bioburden with a novel silver-containing Hydrofiber® dressing. Wound Repair Regen. 2004;12(3):288-294.

4. Performance of Aquacel® and Aquacel® Ag with Strengthening Fibre against Cavity Wound Dressings. Report No. WHRI 3183 MS039. December 1, 2008. Data on File, ConvaTec.

5. Robinson BJ. The use of a Hydrofiber® dressing in wound management. J Wound Care 2000;9(1):32-34.

6. Armstrong SH, Brown DA, Hill E, Ruckley CV. A randomized trial of a new Hydrofiber® dressing, AQUACEL®, and an alginate in the treatment of exuding leg ulcers. Presented at: 5th European Conference on Advances in Wound Management; Harrogate, UK: November 1995. G0-AG-89

7. Caruso DM, Foster KN, Blome-Eberwein SA et al. Randomized clinical study of Hydrofiber® dressing with silver or silver sulfadiazine in the management of partial-thickness burns. J Burn Care Res. 2006; 27(3):298-309. G0-AG-89

8. Kogan L, Moldavsky M, Szvalb S, Govrin-Yehudain J. Comparative study of Aquacel® and Silverol® treatment in burns. Ann Burns Fire Disasters. 2004; 17(4):201-207. G0-AG-89

9. Bowler PG, Jones SA, Walker M, Parsons D. Microbicidal properties of a silver-containing Hydrofiber® dressing against a variety of burn wound pathogens. J Burn Care Rehabil. 2004;25(2):192-196.

10. World Union of Wound Healing Societies (WUWHS). Principles of best practice: Wound exudate and the role of dressings. A consensus document. London: MEP Ltd, 2007.

Source
ConvaTec