An Innovative Wound Cover That Einstein Would Approve

LANGHORNE, Pa., Nov. 5, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- "The significant problems we have cannot be solved at the same level of thinking with which we created them." These words are attributed to one of the greatest thinkers of all time, Albert Einstein. If Einstein were in the hospital, he would definitely not want the "same old" bandages that don't protect against infection, easily get wet, and can be painful when they are pulled or cut off. He would want the newest wrinkle in wound protection—a "smart" bandage, if you will.

In fact, Einstein would want a bandage based on hydrogels (gel-like substances made of water and solids), and further, one that is sterile, flexible, won't stick, and has built-in antimicrobial properties.

Does such a state-of-the-art bandage exist? If so, it could serve as a possible solution to at least one of the five major hospital-acquired infections that together cost a hefty $9.8 billion a year, according to a study in JAMA Internal Medicine. The causes: 1) central line-associated bloodstream infections, 2) ventilator-associated pneumonia, 3) surgical site infections, 4) Clostridium difficile infections and 5) catheter-associated urinary tract infections.

To help prevent infections, hospitals need to disinfect their facilities, keeping every area meticulously clean. One hospital successfully used a robot that dispenses ultraviolet radiation to kill germs, reducing C. diff by almost 70 percent, and four other hospitals using the robot lowered methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections by 35 percent. Educating health workers more thoroughly about infections can also help.

With hospital-acquired infections so costly and dangerous, what else should hospital and clinic administrators, doctors and other stakeholders do for infection prevention? The answer lies in our earlier question. Yes, the new bandages exist, and they need to be used. We are talking about the bandages developed by an innovative Langhorne, PA-based wound management and drug delivery company, Alliqua Biomedical, Inc. The company has built a stellar reputation for creating innovative technology and proprietary products for healthcare providers and their patients. Notably SilverSeal^®, a flexible, sterile, non-adherent hydrogel dressing that incorporates the antimicrobial properties of metallic silver-coated fiber; and Hydress^®, which, although not silver-based, mirrors the flexibility, sterility and non-adherent properties of SilverSeal, and can similarly absorb up to twice its weight in wound exudate.

David Johnson, CEO of Alliqua, explains, "We believe our SilverSeal and Hydress dressings offer important characteristics that hospitals desire, such as painless adhesion to the human body, creating a moist wound environment for healing, reduction of risk of infection and cost effectiveness.

Sounds like just what the doctor should order for the illustrious Professor Einstein—and everyone else!

Alliqua has paid for the writing and dissemination of this press release. For more information, visit http://alliqua.com.

Contact: Laura Radocaj, Dian Griesel Int'l., 212.825.3210

SOURCE Alliqua Biomedical, Inc.