3M™ Actisorb™ Plus 25 Dressing, MAP190, 10.5 cm x 19 cm, 10/pk

Dressings contain pure activated carbon impregnated with silver (33 and 25 ug/cm2 respectively), enclosed in a non-adherent nylon sleeve. The charcoal traps odour in the dressing,³ binds bacteria and toxins that impair the healing process.³ Silver controls a wide range of bacterial, fungal and viral pathogens that can occur in a wound.⁴ Malodour is one of the most distressing symptoms for patients.⁵ It can cause depression and social isolation, which may impact on social and family relations for the patient.⁵,⁶ Through eliminating offensive odours, dressings lead to an improvement in quality of life for a patient and clinician.⁶

¹ Rennison, et al. Antimicrobial efficacy of silver impregnated activated charcoal wound dressing. Poster presented at: ETRS; September 21-23, 2003; Amsterdam, NL. ² Hampton S. Actisorb Silver 220: a unique antibacterial dressing. Journal of Community Nursing. 2002;17-19. ³ Nisbet, L. et al. The benefits of activated charcoal cloth with silver on odour control and bacterial endotoxin binding. Paper presented, Wounds UK Harrogate, 2011. ⁴ Young T. The management of fungating wounds. Journal of Wound Care. 1999;8(5):232-234. ⁵ Van Toller S. Invisible Wounds: the effects of skin ulcer malodours. Journal of Wound Care. 1994;3(2):103-105. ⁶ Jackson L. Use of a charcoal dressing with silver on an MRSA-infected wound. British Journal of Community Nursing. 2011;6(3). ⁷ Addison, D. et al. A comparison of the antimicrobial properties of silver dressings for chronic wound care. Paper presented, EWMA 2002.