The Impact of a Nanocellulose-Based Wound Dressing in the Management of Thermal Injuries in Children: Results of a Retrospective Evaluation

Abstract

The aim of this retrospective study is to evaluate for the first time the impact of a nanocellulose-based wound dressing in the treatment of pediatric patients with both partial- and deep-thickness burns. Usability and effectiveness were defined based on parameters such as frequency of dressing changes under narcosis, duration of hospital stay, onset of complications, need for additional treatments, and follow up scar formation assessment. Fifty-six children who sustained burns in the year 2018 and were treated with a nanocellulose-based wound dressing were included in the trial. The mean stay in hospital was 6.7 days. Patients underwent dressing changes under narcosis 2.4 times on average, and none had wound-associated infection. In all, 82% of the patients were treated only with nanocellulose-based wound dressings, and reepithelialization occurred after ten days. The majority of patients had scars with normal pigmentation (98%), vascularization (91%), height (92%), and pliability (92%). In conclusion, using a nanocellulose-based wound dressing for the treatment of both superficial, partial-thickness and deep, full-thickness burns has several advantages. Compared with the results published in literature on other wound dressings, it requires a moderate number of dressing changes under narcosis and results in short hospital stays. Additionally, it has a low associated infection rate and promotes wound healing.

The High Impact of Staphylococcus aureus Biofilm Culture Medium on In Vitro Outcomes of Antimicrobial Activity of Wound Antiseptics and Antibiotic

“…The A.D.A.M. method incorporates the release of a compound from bacterial cellulose carrier, which is used as a wound dressing material [73]. The cellulose impregnated with the antimicrobial agent is applied indirectly to the biofilm (reducing risk of non-specific removal of biofilm in result of contact between microbes and carrier surface).…”

Controlled Release of the α-Tocopherol-Derived Metabolite α-13′-Carboxychromanol from Bacterial Nanocellulose Wound Cover Improves Wound Healing

“…BNC is a biocompatible, natural material with promising features as a wound cover and drug carrier. Providing a topical hydrophilic barrier and beneficially influencing the local wound milieu, BNC accelerates the wound healing process, and it reduces scar tissue formation and the risk of complications, such as infections [ 57 ]. Moreover, BNC serves as a fluid barrier that prevents local dehydration of the wound while interacting with the wound liquid and sequesters proinflammatory and pro-fibrotic cytokines, preventing increased collagen deposition, i.e., inhibiting scar tissue formation.…”

Advanced Functional Materials Based on Nanocellulose for Pharmaceutical/Medical Applications

“…In addition, it must be easy to apply and painless to remove. It should be biocompatible, have enough mechanical strength to avoid undesirable fracture, could accelerate the healing process, and restore the structure and function of the skin ( Figure 4 ) [ 38 , 79 , 109 , 110 ]. Among different wound-dressing materials, hydrogels have received special attention owing to their unique characteristics such as super-high absorbability, ability to provide hydration for healing, suitable oxygen permeability, easy replacement, and controlled drug release [ 24 , 111 ].…”

“…Bacterial nanocelluloses can be used successfully as wound dressings in which various antiseptic solutions can be introduced and subsequently released to the wound site, and among these may be listed: polyoxanide, octenidine, povidone-iodine, etc. [ 109 ]. A highly biocompatible system with suitable antiseptic properties was prepared by impregnating BNC with povidone-iodine (PI) and polyhexanide (PHMB) [ 102 ].…”