Bioelectric Silver-Zinc Dressing Equally Effective to Chlorhexidine in Reducing Skin Bacterial Load in Healthy Volunteers.

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of the silver-zinc bioelectric dressing as compared with skin preparation with 2% chlorhexidine or 4% chlorhexidine in reducing the bacterial count on the knee. Three groups consisting of 48 healthy volunteers were included. Age range was 23 to 54 years old and 60% of participants were male. Each subject had 1 knee serve as the test and the contralateral as the control. The test site was prepared with either 2% chlorhexidine, 4% chlorhexidine, or a silver-zinc bioelectric dressing and after 24 hours skin cultures were taken and examined for bacterial growth. In the 2% chlorhexidine group 23 of 48 unprepped knees had positive cultures, compared with 9 of 48 prepped knees (P = .003; risk reduction, 4.0 times). In the 4% chlorhexidine group 25 of 48 unprepped knees had positive cultures, compared with 14 of 48 prepped knees (P = .027; risk reduction, 2.6 times). In the silver-zinc bioelectric dressing group 29 of 48 unprepped knees had positive cultures, compared with 7 of 48 prepped knees (P < .001; risk reduction, 8.9 times). There was no difference in the positive skin culture rate between the 3 methods. Application of the silver-zinc bioelectric dressing was equally effective at reducing skin bacterial load when compared with skin preparation with 2% chlorhexidine or 4% chlorhexidine in healthy volunteers. Basic Science - Microbiology. The findings of this study indicate that the use of a bioelectric dressing after knee surgery can match the standard of care of preparing the skin with an antiseptic before surgery.