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Clinical Research
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Assessing the risk of skin irritation with the use of of a silver based site* dressing on pediatric patients First Author: Tarek Copty Authors: Copty, Tarek MD, Kiran, Ravi V. MD, Glat, Paul MD Introduction: Pediatric bloodstream infections are linked to catheter use . Migration of organisms from the insertion site to the distal part of catheter is the proposed mechanism. Antimicrobial dressings around insertion sites can reduce infection rates . Chlorhexidine gluconate* and silver impregnated puncture site dressings** have been studied. Silver site dressings have been successfully used for 2 years on adults. Chlorhexidine use leads to dermatitis in the pediatric population studied . This study examined risk of skin irritation from the silver based site dressing * on children. Methods Seventeen children (university-affiliated tertiary-care facility) were randomly included to have the test dressing applied to peripheral intravenous puncture sites, following standard site disinfection. Dressing and catheter were covered by waterproof polyurethane. Dressing was kept unchanged for 72 hours. The site was inspected twice daily for signs of irritation/dermatitis. Results None of the seventeen children had skin irritation/dermatitis under the test dressing. None developed blood stream infection. Discussion This prospective study shows that the silver dressing is safe for pediatric patients, and unlike chlorhexidine gluconate containing products, do not cause skin irritation Conclusions Silver dressing can be safely used on pediatric patients. Dressing does not appear to cause any allergic dermatitis or skin irritation. * SilvaSorb ¨ Site, Medline Industries, Mundelein, IL ** Biopatch ¨, Johnson & Johnson, Somerville, NJ |
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