PolyMem Silver dressings provide the same benefits of
the other PolyMe dressings plus the added antimicrobial benefits of small particle silver to help protect wounds from microbial contamination.
PolyMem Silver can be used instead of other dressings containing silver because the dressings support moist wound healing while providing a continuous silver reservoir.
An independent comparison study of five silver containing dressings found that PolyMem Silver is the least cytotoxic. The authors say:
“We have demonstrated that PolyMem Silver has the highest absorbancy among the dressings tested in this study. It also has less silver released into the carrier medium and thus it appears to be ‘‘locking up’’ the silver in the dressing. This is potentially a very good feature of a silver based dressing where the bacterial ‘‘kill zone’’ is in the dressing rather than in the wound, thus avoiding the ‘‘collateral’’ damage to the healthy cells within the wound.” 1
PolyMem Silver Benefits
Generates silver ions consistently from a continuous silver reservoir
Reduces bioburden in the dressing
Kills 99.9% of entire population of all bacteria and fungi tested*
Incorporates unique silver particles
Eliminates need for secondary dressing, except when using PolyMem Wic Silver
Absorbs up to 10 times its dressing weight in exudate
Maintains a moist wound environment for improved healing
Indicates when dressing change is necessary via its clear, thin backing (except PolyMem Wic Silver)
Won’t adhere to the wound bed,minimizing damage to wound bed upon removal
Continuously cleanses the wound,reducing the need for wound bed cleansing during dressing changes
Won't stain skin
Helps relieve wound pain and improve comfort2
No need to wet or re-wet
*Organisms tested included Klebsiella pneumoniae (ATCC# 4352), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC# 9027), Enterococcus faecalis (VRE) (ATCC# 51575), Candida albicans (ATCC# 10231), Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (ATCC# 33591) and Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC# 6538). The organisms chosen demonstrate the antimicrobial actions of the silver formulation on relevant, representative organisms.
1. Burd A, Kwok CH, Hung SC, Chan HS, Gu H, Lam WK, Huang L. A comparative study of the cytotoxicity of silver-based dressings in monolayer cell, tissue explant, and animal models. Wound Repair and Regeneration. 2007;15:94-104.
2. Benskin, L. Dramatic Pain Relief through the use of PolyMeric Membrane Dressings (with and without silver) on a deep axillary wound. 19th annual SAWC-San Antonio TX April 30-May 3, 2006. Poster #25.
