Antialgal Synergistic Polystyrene Blended with Polyethylene Glycol and Silver Sulfadiazine for Healthcare Applications

Polystyrene (PS) was blended with polyethylene glycol (PEG) and silver sulfadiazine (SS) with different weight proportions to form polymeric blends. These synthesized blends were preliminary characterized in terms of functional groups through the FTIR technique. All compositions were subjected to thermogravimetric analysis for studying thermal transition and were founded thermally stable even at 280°C. The zeta potential and average diameter of algal strains of Dictyosphaerium sp. (DHM1), Dictyosphaerium sp. (DHM2), and Pectinodesmus sp. (PHM3) were measured to be -32.7 mV, -33.0 mV, and -25.7 mV and 179.6 nm, 102.6 nm, and 70.4 nm, respectively. Upon incorporation of PEG and SS into PS blends, contact angles were decreased while hydrophilicity and surface energy were increased. However, increase of surface energy did not led to decrease of antialgal activities. This has indicated that biofilm adhesion is not a major antialgal factor in these blended materials. The synergetic effect of PEG and SS in PS blends has exhibited significant antialgal activity via the agar disk diffusion method. The PSPS10 composition with 10 w / w % PEG and 10 w / w % SS has exhibited highest inhibition zones 10.8 mm, 10.8 mm, and 11.3 mm against algal strains DHM1, DHM2, and DHM3, respectively. This thermally stable polystyrene blends with improved antialgal properties have potential for a wide range of applications including marine coatings.

The Outpatient Prescribing of Silver Sulfadiazine in Al-Kharj

Aim: The aim of the present study was to describe the outpatient prescription of silver sulfadiazine in Al-Kharj. Methodology: This study was conducted in a public hospital in Alkharj. The data were collected from the outpatient pharmacy in the hospital and includes outpatients who received silver sulfadiazine in 2018. Results: All of the silver sulfadiazine prescriptions were prescribed for 7 days. The prescriptions were made mainly by residents (96.67%). Most of the prescriptions were prescribed by emergency department (90.00%). Conclusion: The use of silver sulfadiazine was uncommon in Alkharj possibly due to the use of effective natural medicines. Silver sulfadiazine could lead to several adverse effects so it is important to increase the awareness about the wise use of silver sulfadiazine and other topical antibiotics.

Clinical Efficacy Test of Polyester Dressing Containing Herbal Extracts and Silver Sulfadiazine Cream Compared with Silver Sulfadiazine Cream in Healing Burn Wounds: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial

The standard burn wound treatment is the application of silver zinc sulfadiazine cream, covered with sterilized gauze dressing. This method has been used for decades because of its reasonable costs and applicability for larger wound sizes. However, gauze with a large pore size may stick to the wound bed and cause wound trauma, leading to delayed healing. The patient may also experience additional pain during changing the dressing. The non-adherent property of a hydrocolloid dressing coated with herbal extract (SIHERB) can promote wound healing as well as reduce pain. This study compared the two methods of burn wound treatment in the same patients, who were split into a “treatment group”, who were applied both silver sulfadiazine cream and hydrocolloid dressing, and “control group”, who were applied only silver sulfadiazine cream. The studied outcomes were the number of days for wound closure, the percentage epithelialization, and the pain score (evaluated every three days until epithelialization was completed). In total, 24 patients at the Burn Clinic, Siriraj Hospital were enrolled on this study. The starting wound areas were ranged from 210–220 cm2. The treatment group exhibited significant results regarding faster wound healing, referring to the number of days taken for wound closure (18 days in the control group vs. 15 days in the experimental group) and the percentage epithelialization compared to the control group. The average pain score in the experimental group was also lower on days 9, 12, and 15 after treatment (p < 0.05). No adverse effects were observed during the study. In conclusion, the combination of hydrocolloid dressing and silver sulfadiazine cream could reduce the wound shearing force and wound bed injury, accelerating the rate of wound closure and decreasing the pain during changing the dressing. This technique could improve upon the standard burn wound treatment.

Compounded Cerium Nitrate—Silver Sulfadiazine Cream is Safe and Effective for the Treatment of Burn Wounds: A Burn Center’s Four-Year Experience

Wound infections and sepsis are significant causes of morbidity after burn injury and can be alleviated by early excision and grafting. In situations that preclude early surgery, topical agents allow for a safer delay. Cerium nitrate compounded with silver sulfadiazine (Ce-SSD) is a burn cream that provides broad antibacterial activity, forms a temporary barrier, and promotes re-epithelialization. Methemoglobinemia is a rare, but oft-cited, systemic complication of Ce-SSD. In this retrospective review, 157 patients treated with Ce-SSD between July 2014 - July 2018 were identified and the monitoring protocol for methemoglobinemia during Ce-SSD treatment was evaluated. Median age was 59 years (IQR, 47-70.5 years), with total body surface area burn (TBSA) of 8.5% (IQR, 3-27), adjusted Baux score of 76 (IQR, 59-94), and inhalation injury present in 9.9% of patients. Primary endpoints included incidence of symptomatic and asymptomatic methemoglobinemia. Of the 9.6% (n = 15) of patients with methemoglobinemia, 73.3% (n=11) had maximum methemoglobin levels ≥ 72 hours from time of first application. One patient developed clinically significant methemoglobinemia. Patients with TBSA ≥ 20% were more likely to develop methemoglobinemia (OR 9.318, 95% CI 2.078 to 65.73, p = 0.0078), however neither Ce-SSD doses nor days of exposure were significant predictors. Ce-SSD application to temporize burn wounds until excision and grafting is safe, effective, and, in asymptomatic patients with TBSA &lt; 20%, can be used without serial blood gas monitoring. Vigilant monitoring for symptoms should be performed in patients with TBSA ≥ 20%, but routine blood gases are not necessary.