Calcium alginate Ag dressing is a natural, pure, non-woven dressing made from calcium alginate fibres. Calcium alginate Ag desssing rapidly absorbs and retains wound fluid to form an integral gellified structure, thereby maintaining an ideal moist wound healing environment. It traps and immobilizes pathogenic bacteria in the network of gellified fibres, stimulates macrophage activity and activates platelets, resulting in haemostasis and accelerated wound healing.

Introduction：

Platelet activation: Calcium ions released into the wound activate platelets, resulting in haemostasis and growth factor release, which control bleeding and accelerate the wound healing process respectively.

Bacterial trapping: Numerous pathogenic bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa are bound and immobilized within the network of gel fibers. A further advantage is that the immobilized bacteria are inhibited from becoming airborne, thus reducing the risk of nosocomial infection.

Macrophage activation: Calcium alginate Ag dressing promotes macrophage activation. Macrophages are the key cells involved in wound healing.

Microphages: release enzymes into the wound; these digest non-vital tissue, facilitating rapid phagocytosis which results in physiological cleansing liberate essential growth factors stimulate local defense mechanisms against pathogenic microorganisms, thereby helping to control infection.

Rapid fluid uptake and retention: Calcium alginate Ag dressing is a highly absorbent polymer. It readily absorbs wound exudate, which is retained securely within the gel fibers network, creating a soft wound contact layer which remains strong and intact even when wet, making removal easy.

Case ：A 64-year-old woman with diabetes Wound

A 64-year-old woman presented with a small sinus in a previous abdominal incision wound (Figure 2). The patient also had diabetes that was controlled by insulin. The size of the opening was approximately 0.5 cm x 0.5 cm. The wound had an unhealthy red appearance with a large amount of viscous exudate. The exudate had an offensive odour, but there were no signs of clinical infection.

Figure 1. Small sinus in a previous abdominal incision wound.

Benefits of the product

Use calcium alginate Ag dressing treatment(Figure 3). Initially these required changing every 3 days. The level of exudate was significantly reduced after 14 days. The sinus healed after 5 weeks of treatment. Towards the end of the treatment period, the dressing was left on the wound for 5–6 days.

Figure 2. Two layers of Calcium alginate Ag dressing in place over the wound.

Clinician’s comments

The dressing was very easy to use and to handle. Removal was easy, quick and did not cause any trauma or require soaking/irrigation of the dressing. It has excellent ability to handle exudate and keeps it away from the surrounding skin. Calcium alginate Ag dressing appears to control odour well. The dressing is cost-effective because dressing changes are quick and easy, and the dressing can be left in place for up to 7 days (Figure 4).

Figure 3. Calcium alginate Ag dressing before removal.

Patient’s view

The patient found the dressing comfortable and was glad that it controlled the odour. The patient was pleased with the rapid healing and the low frequency of dressing changes.