A comparison of Biobrane vs. homograft for coverage of contaminated burn wounds.

An evaluation was made comparing homograft to Biobrane for the coverage of excised burn wounds using a rat model which had been contaminated with 1 x 10(5) Pseudomonas aeruginosa 1244. The homograft and Biobrane were then covered with either silver sulphadiazine cream, a 5 per cent mafenide acetate solution, or no topical antibacterial agent. Five days later the wounds were examined to determine the percentage of graft take. The homograft was found to have a superior graft take in this model. It is therefore recommended that a surgeon using Biobrane for the first time ensures the wound is at least as free of bacterial contamination as he would if he were using homograft.