Silver-containing alginate fibres and dressings.

Silver is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent that is gaining more and more importance in the wound-management industry. By incorporating silver ions into alginate fibres, highly absorbent alginate wound dressings with antimicrobial properties can be made. Laboratory studies have shown that by incorporating fine particles of silver sodium hydrogen zirconium phosphate, the silver-containing alginate fibres can maintain the white physical appearances while providing a sustained release of silver ions when in contact with wound exudates. Test results have proven that these fibres are highly effective against bacteria.