Efficacy of a new multifunctional surfactant-based biomaterial dressing with 1% silver sulphadiazine in chronic wounds.

Chronic wounds represent a large and growing segment of health care and add considerably to human suffering and economic burden as populations age. More effective materials, especially those promoting ease of use and economy, are needed to treat this increasing number of patients. A case series conducted at a European outpatient tertiary wound centre used a novel surfactant-based biomaterial dressing containing 1% silver sulphadiazine on 226 chronic wound patients with various aetiologies. Eighty-eight patients had been undergoing standard of care treatment at the facility, while the remainder (n = 138) began treatment with the surfactant-based biomaterial dressing on enrollment. A total of 73% of the first group healed or showed improvement, with 60% healing by a median of 17 weeks after beginning treatment, and 86% of the group of new enrollees healed or showed improvement, with 73% healing within a median of 12 weeks of beginning treatment with the new product. Patient and clinician reports showed improved compliance, reduced pain and a favourable side-effect profile. Limited economic analysis showed markedly reduced treatment costs compared with standard of care. Further research is recommended.