Antibacterial effect of biological dressings in the treatment of infected wounds.

Human cadaver split skin preserved in a special transport medium (Histocon; Histo-Lab. Ltd., Göteborg, Sweden) and porcine split skin (Skintec; Genetic Lab. Inc., Minneapolis, USA), were used in thirteen patients with infected wounds. Cadaver skin made it possible to reduce applications of wound dressing to two or three times a week without aggravation of infection and made the wound bed suitable for autografting. Skintec was less reliable in these respects. The two biological dressings had equal pain reducing properties. Leukocyte agglutinins, attributable to the treatment with cadaver skin did not appear. Because of retained histological and histochemical characteristics in the preserved cadaver skin it was preferred to Skintec. A regimen consisting of initial wound toilet, antibiotic treatment, skin changing every second or third day finally made permanent skin grafting possible. Secondary gains were a reduce in nursing and dressing routine as compared to saline dressings.