Comparison of Efficacy of 1% Silver Sulfadiazine and ActicoatTM for Treatment of Partial-Thickness Burn Wounds
Pornprom Muangman MD*, Chomchark Chuntrasakul MD*, Soranit Silthram MD*, Supaporn Suvanchote RN*, Rachanee Benjathanung HN*, Suchada Kittidacha RN*, Somphon Rueksomtawin MD*
Affiliation : * Burn Unit, Trauma Division, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University
Background : Acticoat(cid:31)(Smith & Nephew, Hull, UK) is a silver-coated dressing reported to reduce infection
and exhibit antimicrobial activity in wounds.
Objective : The purpose of the present study was to compare the efficacy of acticoat(cid:31) and 1% silver sulfadiazine
(1% AgSD) for treatment of partial thickness burn wounds.
Materials and Methods : The authors reviewed 50 patients who had partial thickness burn wounds less than
25% admitted to Siriraj Burn Unit from May 2002 to September 2005. All patients were divided into 2 groups:
the acticoat(cid:31) treated group (25 patients) and the 1% silver sulfadiazine treated group (25 patients). The 2
groups were compared for the etiology of burn wound, demographic data including age, sex,% Total Body
Surface Area burn (TBSA%), cultured organisms, wound infection and outcome of Length Of hospital Stay
(LOS) and level of pain.
Results : The authors found no significant differences in age, TBSA(%) between both groups. 7 patients (28%)
developed wound infection. There were no differences in wound infection and LOS between both groups (p >
0.05). All of the patients who developed wound infection responded well to targeted topical and systemic
antibiotic treatment. The 1% AgSD treated group (6 of 25, 24%) obtained more split thickness skin graft to
close the granulation defects compared to patients who were treated with acticoatTM (4 of 25,16%) but no
statistical significance, p = 0.32). Average pain scores in the acticoatTM treated groups were significantly
lower than the 1% AgSD treated group (4 (cid:31) 0.6 versus 5 (cid:31) 0.7, respectively).
Conclusion : The present study confirms the efficacy of acticoat(cid:31) treatment in partial thickness burn wound.
The authors conclude that acticoat(cid:31) has an advantage of limiting the frequency of replacement of the
dressing and provides a less painful alternative to wound care with 1% AgSD with comparable incidence of
burn wound infection. This is due to its long wear time and the ease of application and removal.
Keywords : Silver sulfadiazine, Silver-coated dressing, Burn
