NEW ANTIINFECTIVE COLLAGEN DRESSING CONTAINING ANTIBIOTICS

A new antibacterial dressing for infected wounds was prepared. The dre ssing was composed of a collagen membrane and collagen sponge; both bi omaterials possess good tissue biocompatibility. An active antibacteri al layer of limited hydrophobicity was placed between the membrane and the sponge and into the upper part of the sponge. The dressing contai ned gentamycin or amikacin at concentrations of 0.3 mu g/cm(2) (loadin g level of the drug utilized during preparation of the dressing). Eith er the antibiotic or its concentration easily can be changed in the dr essing by the manufacturer. The dressing was stable for several months . The antibiotic was released slowly from the dressing in in vitro exp eriments for 3 days. Antibacterial activity of the dressing was tested using a mouse wound model experimentally infected with Pseudomonas ae ruginosa. Both dressings, containing either amikacin or gentamycin, re duced the number of living bacterial cells in the infected tissue almo st to zero during the course of observation. The new dressing may be e ffective in the treatment of infected wounds in patients. (C) 1997 Joh n Wiley & Sons, Inc.