Malodor, or odors that come from wounds, can be a challenge for both the patient and the care giver. The malodor can be quite unpleasant and may make the patient feel uncomfortable or embarrassed from it, causing them to isolate themselves and possibly delay much needed treatments. Delay of treatment can either prolong the healing process or make the wound worse.
The odor usually comes from anaerobic bacteria that colonizes dead and dying tissues of wounds. The wound does not need to be large for this to begin and quick treatment will result in a faster recovery with less complications or further infections.
What Should Be Used to Help the Odor?
Products and dressings that contain both silver and carbon …show more content…
Killing the bacteria will decrease the malodor of the wound, prevent further infection, and allow the tissues to heal. By using products containing silver, this will decrease the need for traditional antibiotics that bacteria can become resistant to.
How Does Carbon Help in Wound Care?
The carbon in medical products can absorb toxins and fatty acids that are also responsible for wound odor. Additionally, carbon facilitates excess fluids to drain from the wound that can slow down the healing process. With the reduction of fluid at the wound, it allows for increased blood flow and with that the white blood cells that aid in healing and rebuild tissues that died.
Using Silver and Carbon Together in Wound Dressing
Using both silver and carbon in wound dressings will not only decrease the malodor in the wound but aid in the healing process, especially in wounds that are severely infected. Ulcers, bed sores, and lesions that get infected will benefit from the carbon and the silver killing the bacteria and other toxins and aid in the prevention of them returning to the wound or spreading. Studies have shown that wound dressings with silver and carbon can help those with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or more commonly known as MRSA. The antibacterial properties can help when traditional antibiotics become