Comparison of a hydrocolloid dressing and paraffin gauze in the treatment of venous ulcers.

Abstract

In-patients with venous leg ulcers showed increased healing rates with a hydrocolloid dressing (Granuflex), as compared with a traditional paraffin gauze dressing (Jelonet), in a randomized sequential crossover trial, although the difference was not statistically significant. Bacteriological studies showed that the hydrocolloid dressing favoured growth of both aerobes and anaerobes in significantly greater numbers compared with paraffin gauze. Heavy bacterial colonization had no effect on the healing rates of the ulcers. Granuflex is said to produce an anaerobic environment--survival of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a strict aerobe, under Granuflex dressings, makes this seem unlikely.

• Authors: S E Handfield-Jones, C E Grattan, R A Simpson, C T Kennedy
• Journal: The British journal of dermatology (Br J Dermatol) Vol. 118 Issue 3 Pg. 425-7 (Mar 1988) ISSN: 0007-0963 [Print] England
• PMID: 3128320 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Comparative Study, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Colloids
• Paraffin

Topics

• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Clinical Trials as Topic
• Colloids
• Female
• Humans
• Leg Ulcer (microbiology, pathology, therapy)
• Occlusive Dressings
• Paraffin
• Patient Acceptance of Health Care
• Pseudomonas aeruginosa (isolation & purification)
• Random Allocation
• Skin (pathology)