A new study from the Association for Professionals in Infection Control suggests that a combination of betadine and silver colloidal gel is more effective in eliminating infection-causing bacteria than either material alone.
According to Phys.org, their study shows that when combined, the two materials can effectively inhibit the growth of common bacteria, proving a superior approach to treatment to prevent infection in large wounds and even burns.
The study titled "The In Vitro Efficacy of Betadine Antiseptic Solution and Colloidal Silver Gel Combination in Inhibiting the Growth of Bacterial Biofilms" was published in the American Journal of Infection Control.
Betadine Vs. Silver Colloidal Gel Vs. Combined Treatment
Wound infections remain a serious problem, especially in burns, even with the substantial advancements in wound treatment. Jonathan Kopel, Ph.D., a medical student at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and one of the authors of the study, said the research systematically evaluates the use of combined betadine and silver colloidal gel and using the materials alone.
Large wounds and serious burns are prone to bacterial infection that delays or prevent healing. Betadine is widely used in treating and preventing wound infections because of its antimicrobial properties, but some studies suggest it is ineffective against some bacteria.
Meanwhile, topical antimicrobial dressing made from silver also treats and prevents wound infections, providing a different microbial killing mechanism than betadine.
Phys.org reported that the team tested the effectiveness of 5% betadine solution alone, silver colloidal gel, and the combination of 5% betadine and silver colloidal gel to eliminate infection-causing bacteria.
They looked at the effects of the three solutions on five bacteria strains, namely, Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa), Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae), Staphylococcus epidermidis (S. epidermidis), and Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA).
They incubated the bacterial strains for 24 hours to grow biofilms and then prepared cellulose paper discs with each of the three solutions and exposed them to the biofilms. Using a standard, reliable testing assay and advised imaging, the team analyzed the bacteria concentrations remaining in each case.
They found that the combined material completely inhibited all five bacterial strains, while the betadine solution alone showed no inhibition to P. aeruginosa and only inhibited 90% of the other four bacterial strains. While the silver colloidal gel alone inhibited 100% of bacterial growth of four strains except for K. pneumonia.
Risk Factors of Having Infected Wounds
Linda Dickey, 2022 APIC president, noted that wound infections continue to be a significant challenge in medicine because it leads to increased morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. The new study's findings provide new findings that help improve the prevention and treatment of infections.
Prevention is still better than cure and it is important to identify the risk factors that increase the chances of wound infections.
Medical News Today reported that infection occurs when bacteria enter the wound and begin to multiply. They may come from the surrounding skin, the environment, or the object that caused the injury.
Furthermore, the risk of infection is higher if the wound is large or has a jagged edge, when dirt or foreign particles enter the wound, when it is a bite wound from an animal or person, and when rust or germ-containing object is involved in the cause of injury.
Health conditions and environmental factors can also increase the risk of wound infection. These include a weakened immune system, lack of mobility, or those people who spend most of their time in bed, advancing age, nutrient and vitamin deficiencies, and diabetes.
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