The aim of this work was to study the safety and effectiveness of
silver foam dressing (Contreet® Ag, Coloplast, Humlebaek, Denmark) in promoting the healing of infected
venous ulcers over 9 weeks of treatment. Forty-two patients with infected
venous ulcers were included and randomized into two groups. Group A had 21 patients (12 women and 9 men, mean age 61.2 years) who were treated with the
silver foam for 9 weeks. Group B also had 21 patients (14 women and 7 men, mean age 58.7 years) who were treated with a nonadhesive foam (Biatain®, Coloplast, Humlebaek, Denmark) for 9 weeks. In both groups,
ulcer size and depth, intensity of
pain,
wound exudation, bacterial load, side effects of both materials, and
ulcer healing were documented and compared. There was no significant difference at the initial assessment in both groups regarding
ulcer size,
ulcer depth, grade of exudation,
pain intensity, or bacterial load. However, group A
ulcers had a significantly greater healing (P = 0.02) compared to group B.
Pain intensity was significantly less in group A patients at several time points. After 9 weeks of treatment, the
silver foam dressing was found to be a safe material that promotes rapid healing of
venous ulcers and relieves
pain. .