Antimicrobial Activity of

exsaltTM SD7 Dressings: A

Comparative Investigation
Introduction
Silver offers a unique advantage over antibiotics as its Figure 1. Total Silver Content
3.5
antimicrobial activity proceeds along several
3.0

Silver Content (mg/cm2)

pathways; protein and DNA intercalation, respiratory
2.5
chain interference, and ion gradient disruption. Thus,
2.0
decreasing the potential for bacterial resistance to
1.5
silver, whereas antibiotics generally have a singular
1.0
antibacterial mechanism.1-4 However, not all silver is
0.5
equivalent: more silver does not necessarily equate to
0.0
improved efficacy.5-8 In this study, we observe the
antimicrobial efficacy of a series of silver wound care
dressings against S. aureus and compare the results to
their total silver content.

Methods Figure 2. Antimicrobial Activity

In this comparative study, seven silver dressings were 6

Mean Log Reduction (CFU/ml)

evaluated: Medifoam (Biopol Global Co., Ltd.), 5 Pass
Allevyn® Ag (Smith and Nephew), Mepilex® Ag 4
Fail
(Molnlycke Health Care), Aquacel® Ag (ConvaTec), 3
Acticoat® 7 (Smith and Nephew), Silverlon® EasyAG 2
(Argentum Medical, LLC), and exsaltTM SD7 (Exciton 1
Technologies Inc.). Silver content information was
0
gathered from internal testing and public sources,
Figure 1.9-11
An in-vitro log reduction assay was performed using
maximum recovery diluents (MRD) as the test media.
The dressings were pre-conditioned with a set volume
of MRD, as determined by maximum absorbent Results
capacity testing, to remove any absorbency artifacts in As seen above, there is no correlation between silver
the antimicrobial analysis. The dressings were then content, Figure 1, and antimicrobial activity, Figure 2.
inoculated to a final concentration of 106 CFU/ml Only three of the dressings tested provide the efficacy
Staphylococcus aureus ATCC#6538, and incubated at required for a four log reduction of S. aureus: exsaltTM
37 °C for 4 hours. Greater than a 4 log reduction is SD7, Silverlon®, and Acticoat® 7. Of these three
defined as a pass. The antimicrobial efficacies for each dressings, it is observed that exsaltTM SD7, contains
dressing are presented in Figure 2.11 the least silver per unit area and is, on average, the
most efficacious dressing.
References
1) Warriner, R., Burrell, R., Adv. Skin. Wound Care., 2005, 18(1), 2-12
2) Walker, M., et al., Ostomy/Wound Management, 2006, 52(1), 42-50
3) Schreurs, W.J.A., et al., Antimicrob. Agents Chemother., 2002, 46, 2668- Conclusions
2670  exsaltTM SD7 offers superior
4) Silver, S., FEMS Microbiol. Rev.2003, 27, 341-353
5) Antelman M.S.; N. Jonas & Co., Inc., US Patent 5.211.855 antimicrobial efficacy with minimal
6) Dellasega, D., et al., Nanotech., 2008, 19, 475602-475607 silver content.
7) McMillan, J.A., Chem. Rev., 1962, 62(1), 65-80
8) Waterhouse, G.I.N., et al., Polyhedron, 2007, 26, 3310-3322  Silver content may not be directly
9) Thomas, S., World Wide Wounds, 2004, 1.1
10) Werthen, M., et al., EWMA, 2010, P152
related to efficacy
11) Data on file, Exciton Technologies Inc., 2010

PR-0044.0