No silver lining for dressings
Thursday April 15th, 2010
Hospitals and clinics should not be spending money on silver-coated dressings - as there is no evidence they work, experts said today.
Silver dressings and plasters have been developed over the years because silver is known to combat bacteria and fungi.
In Britain the NHS spent some £25 million on them in the year from 2006 to 2007 - a £2 million increase on the previous year.
Now experts say that hardly any "scientifically sound" studies have been conducted of the treatment.
In the Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin, the researchers say there is even some evidence they can delay healing of acute wounds.
The bulletin says today there is some "weak" evidence that they may help with the treatment of infected burns.
The bulletin says: "Silver dressings are expensive and there have been few high quality trials to establish whether they have advantages over other, cheaper alternatives.
"With these factors in mind, we believe that the routine use of silver dressings is not justified on clinical or cost-effectiveness grounds as treatment for uncomplicated leg ulcers, when simple dressings and compression bandaging are more appropriate."
DTB 2010; 48: 38-42
Tags: Dermatology | NHS | Nursing & Midwifery | UK News
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