Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Pathogenesis of Wound and Biomaterial-Associated Infections pp 147–157Cite as

Clinical and Bacteriological Advantages in the Use of Occlusive Dressings

  • Chapter

Summary

It has been shown that occlusive dressings can lead to better healing of skin wounds as they create a periwound environment which is beneficial for the wound healing process. Occlusion of a would may influence desiccation, disturbance of the wound bed, temperature, pH, fibrinolysis and angiogenesis. Despite these well-known advantages, the infection risk under occlusion is considered to be a major disadvantage. It has been shown, however, that infection under occlusive dressings occurs less frequently than under conventional, non-occlusive dressings. The beneficial influence occlusive dressings may have on wound healing with respect to the incidence of wound infection is discussed in this article.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Alinovi, A., Bassissi, P., Pini, M. Systemic administration of antibiotics in the management of venous ulcers. J.Am.Acad.Derm, 1986, 15, 186 – 191.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Alper, J.C., Welch, E.A., Ginsberg, M., Bogaars, H., Maguire, D. Moist healing under a vapour permeable membrane. J.Am.Acad.Derm, 1983, 8; 347 – 353.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Alvarez O.M, Mertz P.M, Hef ton J.M, Eaglestein W.H. The effect of occlusive dressings on collagen synthesis and reepithelialisation in superficial wounds. J. Surg. Research, 1983, 142 – 148.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Alvarez O.M, Hefton J.M, Eaglestein W.H. Healing wounds, occlusion or exposure. Infection in Surgery, 1984, 173 – 178

    Google Scholar 

  5. Aly, R., Shirley, C., Cunico, B., Maibach, H.I. Effect of prolonged occlusion on the microbial flora, pH, carbon dioxide and transepidermal water loss on human skin. J.Inv.Dermatol, 1987, 71, 378 – 381.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Anonymous. Papyrus Smith Papers, 1700 B.C.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Barr P.O, Birke G, Liljedahl S.O. et al. Oxygen consumption and water loss during treatment of burns with warm dry air. Lancet, 1986, 1, 164 – 169.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Bennett, R.G. The debatable benefit of occlusive dressings for wounds. J.Dermatol.Surg.Oncol, 1982, 8, 166 – 168.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Browse N.L, Bumand K.G. The cause of venous ulceration. Lancet, 1982, 2, 243 – 248.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Buchan, I.A., Andrews, J.K., Lang, S.M., Boorman, J.G., Harvey-Kemble, J.G., and Lamberty, B.G.H. Laboratory investigation of the composition and properties of human skin wound exudate under OpSite. Bums, 1981, 7, 326 – 334.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Buchan, I.A., Andrews, J.K. and Lang, S.M. Laboratory investigation of the composition and properties of pig skin wound exudate under OpSite. Burns, 1982, 8, 39 – 46.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Burnand KG, Whimster I, Maidoo A, Browse N.L. Pericappilary fibrin in the ulcer-bearing skin of the leg: the cause of lipodermatosderosis and venous ulceration. Br.J.Med, 1982, 285, 1071 – 1073.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Cheng C.Y. et al. Fibronectin enhances healing of excised wound in rats. Arch. Dermatol, 1988, 124, 221 – 225.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Chesham, J.S., and Platt, D.J. Patterns of wound colonisation in patients with peripheral vascular disease. J.Infect, 1987, 15, 21 – 26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Dagher, F.J., Alongi, S.V., and Smith,A. Bacterial studies of leg ulcers. Angiology, 1978, 29, 641 – 653.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Daltrey, D.C., Rhodes, B., and Chattwood, J.G. Investigation into the microbial flora of healing and non-healing decubitus ulcers. J.Clin.Pathol, 1981, 34, 701 – 705.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Dill D.B, Forbes W.H. Respiratory and Metabolic Effects of hypothermia. Am.J.Physiol, 1941, 132, 685 – 691.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Echinard C, Danzer E, Malavaud M, Hermans M.H.E. Logel in the treatment of donorsites. Proceedings of "Recent Advances in Burn Injuries", In stan bul, 1988, 99.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Eisenberg M. The effect of occlusive dressings on reepithelialisation of wounds in children with epidermolysis bullosa. J.Ped.Surg, 1986, 21, 892 – 894.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Falanga V. Occlusive wound dressings. Arch. Dermatol, 1988, 124, 872 – 878

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Fechner M.R, Kon M. De behandeling van donorplaatsen van huidtransplantaten met polyvinylhydrogelfolie. N.T.V.G, 1988, 1174.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Gilchrist, B., and Reed, C., The bacteriology of leg ulcers under hydrocolloid dressings. in Ryan T.J., (Ed), 1988, "Beyond occlusion: wound care proceedings". Royal Society of Medicine, London. 83 – 87.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Gillman T. Outline of some aspects of the healing of full thickness loss excised wounds. In Surgical dressings and wound healing. Harkiss K.J. (ed), 1970, 98 – 102, Bradford, University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Gimbel NS, Farris W. The influence of surface temperature in the epithelialisation rate of split thickness donor sites. Arch. Surg, 1966, 92, 554 – 656.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Gorse, G.J., and Messner, R.L. Improved pressure sore healing with hydrocolloid dressings. Arch.Dermatol, 1987, 123; 766 – 771.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Groenewald, J.H. Comparative effects of HCD and conventional treatment on the healing of venous stasis ulcer. In Ryan T.J., (Ed) "An environment for healing: the role of occlusion" Royal Society of Medicine, London, 1985, 105 – 109.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Hedman L.A. Effect of a hydrocolloid dressing on the pain level from abrasions on the feet during intensive marching. Military Medicine. 1988, 153, 188 – 191.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Henry M, Byrne P.J, Dinn E. Pilot study to investigate the pH of exudate on varicose ulcers under DuoDerm. In Beyond Occlusion, woundcare proceedings. T.J. Ryan (ed.) Royal Society of Medicine 136, 1988, 67 – 71.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Hermans M.H.E, Hermans R.P. DuoDerm, an alternative dressing for smaller burns. Burns, 1986, 12, 214 – 219.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Herndon D.N, Curreri P.W, Abston S, Rutan T.C, Barrow R.E. Treatment of Burns. In Current problems in surgery. Ravitch M.M(Ed). Publ: Medical Publishers Inc, 1987, 347 – 397.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Hutchinson, J.J. Prevalence of wound infection under occlusive dressings: a collective survey of reported research. Wounds, 1989, 123 – 133.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Jonkman M.F. Epidermal wound healing between moist and dry, 89. (Thesis) Groningen University Press, 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Katz, S., McGinley, K., and Leydon, J.J. Semipermeable occlusive dressings. Effect on growth of pathogenic bacteria and re-epithelialization of superficial wounds. Arch.Dermatol, 1986, 122, 58 – 62.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Knighton D.R, Silver I.A, Hunt T.K. Regulation of wound-healing angiogenesis. Effect of oxygen gradients and inspired oxygen concentration. Surgery, 1981, 262 – 270.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Laforet, E.G. Wound dressing or window dressing? Arch.Surg, 1974 109, 457.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Lawrence, J.C. What materials for dressings? Injury, 1982, 13, 500 – 512.

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  37. Lawrence, J.C. Infection control in burns. Ballieré s Clinical Anaesthiology, 1, 1987, 673 – 691.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Lawrence, J.C., and Lilley, H. Are hydrocolloid dressings bacteria-proof? Pharm.J, 1987, 239; 184.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Lendrum, j., and Bowen-Jones, E. A new dressing for burns. Enclosure in a plasticised poly vinyl chloride sheet. Burns, 1976, 2, 86 – 89.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Leveen H.H. et al. Chemical Acidification of wounds: an adjuvant to healing and the unfavorable action of alkalinity and ammonia. Ann. Surg, 1973, 745 – 753.

    Google Scholar 

  41. Longe, R.L. Current concepts in clinical therapeutics: pressure sores. Qin.Pharm. 1986, 5, 681 – 699.

    Google Scholar 

  42. Lookingbill, D.P., Miller, S.H., and Knowles, R.C. Bacteriology of chronic leg ulcers. Arch.Dermatol, 1978, 114, 1765 – 1768.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Lydon M.J, Cherry G.W, Cederholm-Williams SA, Pick worth J.J, Cherry C, Scudder C, Johson E.R, Ryan T.J, FairbrotherJ.E. Fibrinolyticactivityofhydrocolloid dressings. In Beyond Occlusion, woundcare procedings. T.J. Ryan (ed.) Royal Society of Medicine 136, 1988, 9 – 18.

    Google Scholar 

  44. May S.R.Physiology, immunology and clinical efficacy of an adherent polyurethane dressing: Opsite. In Burn Wound Coverings, Vol. II. Wise L.W.(Ed), CRC PRess Inc. 1984, 53 – 78.

    Google Scholar 

  45. May, S.R. Physiological activity from an occlusive wound dressing. In Lawrence J.C., (Ed), 1983, "Wound healing symposium". Medical Publishing Foundation, Oxford, 35 - 49.

    Google Scholar 

  46. McHugh T.P. et al. Therapeutic efficacy of Biobrane in partial-and full thickness thermal injury. Surgery, 1986, 100, 4, 661 – 664.

    Google Scholar 

  47. Mertz, P.M., and Eaglstein, W.H. The effect of a semi-occlusive dressing on the microbial population in superficial wounds. Arch.Surg, 1984, 119, 287 – 289.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. Mertz, P.M., Marshall, D., and Eaglstein, W.H. Occlusive wound dressing to prevent bacterial invasion and wound infection. J.Am.Acad.Dermatol, 1985, 12, 662 – 668.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Mulder, G.D., Kissil, M.T., and Mahr, J.J. Bacterial growth under occlusive and non-occlusive wound dressings. 1989, Wounds, 1, 63 – 69.

    Google Scholar 

  50. Nathan P, Robb E.C, MacMillan B. A bacterial barrier dressing for skin donorsites. Burns, 1980, 7, 52 – 56.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. Pickworth J.J, Sousa de N. Differential wound angiogenesis: quantitation by immunohistological staining for Factor VIII-related antigen. In Beyond Occlu-sion, woundcare proceedings. T.J. Ryan (ed.) Royal Society of Medicine 136, 1988, 19 – 24.

    Google Scholar 

  52. Phone L. Wound healing under occlusion and non-occlusion in partial thickness and full thickness wounds. Abstract of "Symposium Advanced wound healing " (New Orleans), 1989, 92.

    Google Scholar 

  53. Rijswijk, L.van, Brown, D., Friedman, S., DeGreef, Prof. H., Roed-Peterson, J., Borgland, E., Ebert, H.M., Beylot, C., and Su, W.P.D, Multicentre evaluation of a hydro-colloid dressing for leg ulcers. Cutis, 1985, 35, 173 – 176.

    Google Scholar 

  54. Ryan T.J, Given H.F, Murphy J.J, Hope-Ross M, Burnes G. The use of a new occlusive dressing in the management of venous stasis ulcers. In An environment for healing. T.J. Ryan (ed.). Royal Society of Medicine 136, 1985, 99 – 105.

    Google Scholar 

  55. Saymen, D.G., Nathan, P., Holder, I.A., Hill, E.O., and MacMillan, B.G. Control of surface wound infection: skin versus synthetic grafts. Appl.Microbiol, 1973, 25, 921 – 934.

    Google Scholar 

  56. Schwope A.D, Wise D.L, Sell K.W, Dressler D.P, Skornick W.A. Evaluation of wound covering materials J. Biomed.Mater.Res. 1972, 11, 489 – 502.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  57. Simpson B.J., Winter G.D. A method of studying the performance of dressings using a standard wound in the domestic pig. In surgical dressings and wound healing, Harkiss K.J. (ed.), 1970, 70–77, Bradford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  58. Tjong Wai R, Hermans R.P, Bosch P.J. Resultaten van de behandeling met allogene huidtransplantaten van verbrandingen door hete vloeistoffen bij kinderen. N.T.V.G., 1983, 127, 7, 290 – 291.

    Google Scholar 

  59. Varghese, M.C., Bann, A.K., Carter, D.M., and Caldwell, D., Local environment of chronic wounds under synthetic dressings. Arch.Dermatol, 1986, 122, 52 – 57.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  60. Waffle C, Simon R.R, Joslin C. Moisture vapour permeable film as an outpatient burn dressing. Burns, 1988, 14, 66 – 70.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  61. Wilson, P., Burroughs, D., and Dunn, L.J. Methicillinresistant Staphylococcus aureus and hydrocolloid dressings. Pharm.J, 1988, 241, 787 – 789.

    Google Scholar 

  62. Winter G.D. Effect of air drying and dressings on the surface of a wound. Nature 1963, 197, 91 – 93.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  63. Winter G.D. Epidermal regeneration studied in the domestic pig. In Epidermal wound healing, Maibach H.I, Rovee D.T (eds): Chicago, Year Book Medical Publishers, 1972, 85.

    Google Scholar 

  64. Winter G.D. Healing of skin wounds and the influence of dressings in the repair proces. In Surgical dressings and wound healing. Harkiss K.J. (ed.), 1970, 46–77, Bradford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  65. Winter, G.D. Formation of the scab and the rate of epithelialization of superficial wounds in the skin of the young domestic pig. Nature (London), 1962, 193, 293 – 295.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  66. Zawacki B.E. The natural history of reversible burn injury. Surgery, Gynecology and Obstetrics, 1974, 139, 867 – 871.

    Google Scholar 

  67. Zawacki B.E. Reversal of capillary stasis and prevention of necrosis in burns. Ann. Surg. 1974, 98 – 102.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. Michel H. E. Hermans
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jerry J. Hutchinson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Lund, POB 117, S-22100, Lund, Sweden

    Torkel Wadström PhD (Professor) & Åsa Ljungh PhD (Assistant Professor) (Professor) &  (Assistant Professor)

  2. Department Medical Microbiology, Sölvegaten 23, S-23362, Lund, Sweden

    Ingvar Eliasson PhD

  3. Burns Institute, Shriners Hospital, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

    Ian Holder PhD

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1990 Springer-Verlag London Limited

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Hermans, M.H.E., Hutchinson, J.J. (1990). Clinical and Bacteriological Advantages in the Use of Occlusive Dressings. In: Wadström, T., Eliasson, I., Holder, I., Ljungh, Å. (eds) Pathogenesis of Wound and Biomaterial-Associated Infections. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-3454-1_18

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-3454-1_18

  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-19596-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4471-3454-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation