Use of PHMB Dressings in Wound Care
Wound infections can delay healing, resulting in increased treatment costs and extended hospital stays, especially after surgery. With more people developing antibiotic resistance, healthcare providers are challenged with preventing bacteria from causing infections. One of their alternatives to using antiseptics is applying polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) dressings.
PHMB’s toxicity is low for wound cells, making the dressings effective in fighting antibiotic-resistant bacteria. They can be cost-effective in preventing surgical site infections when used with standard wound care protocols.
About PHMB dressings
Polyhexamethylene biguanide helps minimise wound bioburden. PHMB can enter the bacterial cell membranes, making them leak potassium ions and cause their death. It also binds to bacterial cell DNA to inactivate it. That makes PHMB dressings effective against methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteria, which is highly resistant to many widely used antibiotics.
Chronic and surgical wounds are often at risk of contamination. Without proper treatment or preventive measures, bacteria can multiply and cause an infection, resulting in delayed healing and wound breakdown. There’s also the risk of bacteria becoming contagious when it transfers to the environment. But, bacterial numbers can be managed at lower levels while preventing infections.
When to use PHMB dressings
PHMB is an antiseptic used for over 60 years. So far, there’s no evidence of it developing resistance. Its toxicity is minimal and has even been introduced in eye infection treatment and swimming pool sanitation. Nowadays, it’s proven effective in wound management, more so when used in dressings containing 0.2 per cent of it.
PHMB dressings help prevent wound infections by reducing the bacterial load and penetration in the dressing. This way, they allow healing to progress and lead to wound closure. Don’t forget to clean and treat wounds when changing dressings to promote healing and prevent further infection.
Use PHMB dressings for chronic and acute wounds at risk of infection, with low to moderate exudate. They can be applied at various stages of healing to promote granulation while ensuring effective exudate management and antimicrobial protection. You may also use the dressings under compression.
Get high-quality PHMB dressings
PHMB dressings can promote fast and cost-effective wound healing. Ensure you’re getting authentic products by purchasing from reputable stores. Consider dressings from brands like Kendall and Suprasorb.
About The Author
Wound-Care is a healthcare firm located in the UK that specializes in the distribution of wound-care products. All of our dressings come from MHRA-approved suppliers in the UK. We ship to hospitals and health clinics all around the world.