The efficacy of silver-impregnated activated charcoal dressings* in the management of malodorous critically colonised chronic venous leg ulcers and diabetic foot ulcers

Wound Malodour is a distressing symptom associated with chronic wounds, and has been shown to significantly impact patient’s quality of life. 1,2 Wound malodour is often associated with critical colonisation and infection with anaerobic bacteria, 3 which produce volatile, malodourous compounds through their metabolism. Silver-impregnated activated charcoal dressings* (SIAC) comprise of activated charcoal cloth impregnated with silver, within a nylon sleeve. When applied to wounds, the activated charcoal absorbs bacteria and volatiles, while silver in the cloth inactivates bacteria. 4,5 The efficacy of SIAC to reduce populations of two representative anaerobic bacteria Bacteroides fragilis (BF) and Clostridium difficile (CD) was evaluated by triplicate log 10 reduction assay. Samples of culture were removed at various timepoints over 24 hours and total viable counts (TVC) determined. A separate, prospective, non-comparative study was conducted on 7 cases of critically colonised chronic wounds; 5 venous leg ulcers, and 2 diabetic foot ulcers. SIAC was applied over a period of 2 to 4 weeks, and wounds were evaluated weekly during treatment for wound malodour, wound size, and extent of granulation. The in vitro test results showed that SIAC achieved a >4 log