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Home > Home Care

Silverlon Dressing

This pamphlet provides helpful information about the use of a Silverlon Dressing in wound care. If you have any questions or concerns please talk with your doctor or nurse.

Silverlon dressings are effective in treating antibiotic resistant infections (bacteria such as MRSA, Pseudomonas, VRE). The dressing allows the silver’s healing effect to be more controlled and long lasting. It also:

• reduces allergic reactions
• helps reduce wound pain and less pain medicine may be needed
• requires fewer dressing changes, reducing cost and time Silverlon dressings are used in the care of:
• Chronic non-healing wounds
• Chronic venous ulcers
• Diabetic foot wounds
• Painful wound beds

The wound is covered first with the Silveron dressing. Then an outer gauze dressing is applied and secured with tape. If the wound is deep, a thicker dressing may be placed over the gauze. Your doctor or nurse will give you specific instructions.

Changing the Dressing

Supplies

You will need the following supplies:

• Clean gloves (vinyl or latex)
• Silverlon dressing
• Outer dressing: 4x4 gauze sponges or abdominal dressings (ABDs) as needed
• Water
• Tape
• Absorbent paper towels

Preparing the Work Area

It is best to choose a work area away from household traffic and distraction. Tables and surfaces normally have dust and some germs.

• Choose a work surface such as a table, TV tray or countertop.
• If the surface is washable, clean it with soap and water; dry with a clean towel or paper towel.
• If the surface is not washable (wood dresser top), wipe it free of dust and spread a clean towel or paper towels over the surface.
• Avoid coughing or sneezing on the clean surface.

Handwashing

Be sure to wash your hands carefully with soap before and after each dressing change.

Procedure

1.Wash hands.
2.Open and prepare all of the needed dressings and supplies. For example, tear the pieces of tape you will use in advance. This is important if you do not have someone helping you.
3.Wash your hands carefully with soap and water. Dry your hands. Apply clean gloves.
4.Loosen and remove the outer dressing by holding onto the skin and pulling the tape off towards the wound. Discard the outer dressing in a plastic bag. (Be sure to keep soiled dressings away from children, pets).
5.Remove Silverlon dressing and rinse away any drainage under running tap water. Squeeze to remove excess water and place dressing on absorbent paper towel. (The Silverlon dressing should be moist, but not “dripping wet.”)
6.Rinse wound with water, pat edges of skin dry. This can be done in the shower or by irrigating the wound using a 60cc syringe. (See page 3 for details on wound irrigation.)
7.Be sure to dry skin carefully.
8.Place the moist Silverlon dressing into the bottom of the wound. Be sure it covers the whole wound and at least 1/2 inch of skin around the wound. Remove gloves.
9.Cover the Silverlon with the outer dressing and secure in place as directed by your doctor or nurse. Be sure to touch only the corner of the outer dressing when placing over the wound. (If using tape, you may want to place the tape along all for sides as in a “picture frame.” See Figure 1.)
10.Wash hands.

Change the dressing every 12 hours or when drainage can be seen through outer dressing. Use a new Silverlon dressing at least every 7 days or when unable to rinse off drainage.

Irrigating Your Wound With Dressing Change

Supplies

In addition to the supplies used for the dressing change, you will also need:

• 60 cc plastic syringe (without needle)*
• small basin*
• hand towel
• plastic (to protect bed)
*An irrigation kit can be used in place of the syringe and basin. The kit contains a bulb syringe and a plastic basin.

Procedure

1. Carefully wash your hands. Fill the basin with lukewarm tap water.
2. Remove the syringe from its wrapper.
3. Take the small plastic cover off the end of the syringe.
4. Insert the syringe tip into the water. Pull back on the plunger to fill the syringe.
5. Set the syringe aside until needed.
6. Open and prepare all of the needed dressings and supplies. For example, tear the pieces of tape you will use in advance. This is important if you do not have someone helping you.
7. Place the plastic sheet on the area of the bed nearest the wound and cover with a clean the towel.
8. Tilt the body so that water can easily flow out of the wound and onto the towel.
9. Wash you hands carefully with soap and water. Dry your hands. Apply clean gloves.
10. Loosen and remove the outer dressing by holding onto the skin and pulling the tape off towards the wound. Discard the outer dressing in a plastic bag. (Be sure to keep soiled dressings away from children, pets).Remove Silverlon dressing and rinse away any drainage under running tap water. Squeeze to remove excess water and place dressing on absorbent paper towel. (The Silverlon dressing should be moist, but not “dripping wet.”)

Now you are ready to irrigate the wound:

1. Take the syringe & push the plunger so the water flows into the wound and drains out into the towel. Be sure to rinse all areas of the wound to remove any drainage. Do not allow the tip of the syringe to touch the wound or skin.
2. Remove the towel and plastic.
3. Carefully dry the skin. Re-position the body as needed.
4. Apply the dressing as described on page 2 under Changing the Dressing, (steps 8-10).

Note: The syringe (or irrigation kit) can be cleaned with soap and water and stored in a clean ziplock bag or closed plastic container. It should be discarded and replaced every 2 weeks.

Special Instructions

Store dressings in a clean, dry place. Keep all items in their packages until you are ready to use them. Do not use Silverlon with saline, petrolatum, iodine or hydrogen peroxide. It is important to remove Silverlon prior to x-ray, CT scan or an MRI test. Before these tests, apply a gauze dressing moistened with saline (salt water) and covered with a dry dressing. Purchase saline at the drugstore or you may make your own saline solution. The solution is made by boiling 2 teaspoons of salt in 1 quart of water for 5 minutes. (Do not use well water or sea water). Store solution in a closed glass container (which has been boiled in water for 4 minutes). Cool solution before using. After 7 days, discard any remaining saline solution.

Keep the saline dressing on until the test is done. Then re-dress the wound with a Silverlon dressing.

Do not remove Silverlon dressing if dressing sticks to wound. If this occurs, wet the dressing with water until it can be easily removed. Then increase the Silverlon dressing changes to every 8 hours.

When to Call the Doctor

Watch for the following signs and symptoms and notify your doctor if these occur:

• Temperature over 101.5 F or chills
• Foul-smelling drainage or fluid from the wound
• Increased redness or swelling of the wound or skin around it
• Increasing tenderness or pain in or around the wound

For information about obtaining Silverlon dressing contact the manufacturer:

Argentum Medical, LLC: Toll free at: 1-866-968-6322 or at http://www.silverlon.com.

© Northwestern Memorial Hospital
900769 (02/04)

Developed by: Wound, Ostomy, Continence Nurse Clinicians,Department of Surgical Nursing

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