Table 1.

A large variety of silver-based dressings [12]

Dressing	Information and use	Type of wound
Acticoat	A conformable silver antimicrobial barrier dressing with a 3 or 7 day efficacy.	Acute Burns
	A 3-layered dressing consisting of an absorbent rayon/ polyester layer sandwiched between 2 outer layers of silver-coated polyethylene net.	Partial thickness burns
	The silver is in nanocrystalline form, and when moistened is released from the dressing onto the wound.	Infected, contaminated or colonized burns
	Can be left intact for 3 or 7 days depending on the type selected
	Needs moist secondary dressings to activate the silver
Acticoat Flex	A knitted, flexible polyester weave, coated with nanocrystalline silver.	Acute Burns
	Stretches too accommodate mobility	Partial thickness burns
	Open weave allows fluid and exudate migration	Infected, contaminated or colonized burns
Acticoat Absorbent	A silver coated highly absorbent alginate dressing with a 3-day antimicrobial efficacy and 7-day wear time.	Recommended for use in the same burn wounds as other Acticoat products but those with a large amount of exudate
	Helps prevent infection, in turn facilitating wound healing
	Reduces risk of colonization
	Easy to use and highly conformable
Mepilex Ag	Silver based silicone which uses Safetac technology	Superficial and mid dermal burns
	Does not adhere to underlying wound bed, minimizing pain associated with dressing changes	Colonized but NOT infected burns
	Conforms well and it is easy to cut to size or shape for wounds in difficult to dress areas.
Aquacel Ag	Silver-based hydrofibre	Partial thickness burns
	Silver in the dressing kills wound bacteria held in the dressing	Moderate to highly exuding wounds, which are infected or at risk of infection
	Provides an antimicrobial barrier to protect the wound bed
	Absorbs high amounts of wound fluid and bacteria and creates a soft, cohesive gel that intimately conforms to the wound
	Colonized but not infected burns
	Not suitable for over joints
Silver Sulfadiazine	Topical silver based cream that has a broad antimicrobial activity against both Gram Positive and Gram-negative organisms	Dry wounds
	The cream also contains Chlorhexidine Gluconate that is a disinfectant, which is active against a wide range of vegetative Gram Positive and Gram Negative bacteria	Full thickness burns
	Not suitable for the face	Used on infected or contaminated wounds
Allevyn Ag	Antimicrobial hydrocellular foam dressing with soft gel adhesive	Moderately to highly exuding wounds on patients with fragile or sensitive skin where infection or infections risk needs to be managed.
Biatain Ag	Non-adhesive Foam Dressings with silver	Moderately to highly exudating partial thickness burns
	Prepared with hydro-activated silver, which is released onto the wound during wear
Antimicrobial Dressings
Dressing	Information and use	Type of wound
Flaminal	Alginate gel with antimicrobial properties	Flaminal Forte: medium to highly exudating wounds
	Requires suitable secondary dressing and can be left intact for 1–4 days.	Flaminal Hydro: lightly exudating wounds