Table 1.

Common partial-thickness or full-thickness burn wound dressings

Dressing agent	Active substance	Presentation	Main use	Advantages	Disadvantages
Bacitracin	Bacitracin	Ointment	Superficial burns, skin grafts	Gram (+) coverage	No G(−) or fungal coverage
Polymyxin	Polymyxin B	Ointment	Superficial burns, skin grafts	Gram (−) coverage	No G(+) or fungal coverage
Mycostatin	Nystatin	Ointment	Superficial burns, skin grafts	Good fungal coverage	No bacterial coverage
Silvadene	Silver sulfadiazine	Ointment	Deep burns	Good bacterial and fungal coverage, painless	Poor eschar penetration, sulfa moiety, leucopenia, pseudoeschar formation
Sulfamylon	Mafenide acetate	Ointment and liquid solution	Deep burns	Good bacterial coverage, good eschar penetration	Painful, poor fungal coverage, metabolic acidosis
Dakin’s	Sodium hypochlorite	Liquid solution	Superficial and deep burns	Good bacterial coverage, inexpensive and readily available	Very short half life
Silver	Silver nitrate, silver ion	Liquid solution, dressing sheets	Superficial burns	Good bacterial coverage, painless	Hyponatremia, dark staining of wounds and linens
Acetic Acid 2%	Acetic acid	Liquid solution, dressing	Superficial and deep burns	Good Gram-negative coverage	Painful, vinegary smell