Case reports on the use of antimicrobial (silver impregnated) soft silicone foam dressing on infected diabetic foot ulcers

Abstract

This article described four patients who had an episode of an infected foot ulcer, and subsequently treated with a novel antimicrobial soft silicone foam dressing together with standard off-loading and antibiotic therapy. Qualitative description of the ulcer-healing process was documented. All four ulcers showed positive wound contraction and reduction in size throughout the follow-up period ranging from 3 to 16 weeks. In addition, clinical signs of infection were absent at the end of the follow-up period. Moreover, surrounding skin maceration and trauma were absent in all wounds. Adequate moisture control was also achieved with the evidence of a healthy red granulating base, and a thin layer of clear light exudate in three out of the four cases. However, these reports had very little evidence to show the dressing's effectiveness in combating wound infection, but there might be some possible clinical efficacies of the dressing to control infection. Appropriate antibiotic therapy and off-loading are still essential components when treating diabetic foot infection.