Effectiveness of silver dressing in preventing surgical site infections in contaminated wounds

Abstract

Introduction: Silver gauzes are designed to treat infected wounds, but there is controversial evidence about their effectiveness in preventing surgical site infections in contaminated wounds.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of silver gauzes in patients undergoing surgery with contaminated wounds at a university-based tertiary referral center.

Methods: This was a prospective, controlled trial comparing a silver gauze dressing with saline gauze dressings in patients undergoing abdominal surgeries with contaminated wounds.

Patients were randomly assigned to receive either silver gauze (SG) dressing or saline gauze dressings (SD). The primary end point was surgical site infection occurring within 30 days of surgery.

Results: 65 patients were enrolled in the review. The incidence of surgical site infection was 14% (9/65). No differences were observed among groups (15.2% vs. 12.5%, p = 0.75).

Multivariate analysis revealed no relationship between the type of dressing and surgical site infection.

Conclusion: Silver gauzes are safe and effective in preventing surgical site infections in surgeries with contaminated wounds. Further trials are required to find out if they have advantages over standard dressings.