Comparative study of the efficacy of nanocrystalline silver dressing and silver sulfadiazine applied on burns in hospitalized patients

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of dressing based on silver as nanocrystalline silver and silver sulfadiazine in patients with burns and clinical signs of infection, in the healing process, seeking a favorable outcome of local therapy. Methods: A prospective and exploratory study, carried out with patients with burns with a quantitative approach by the method of clinical investigation. The study population comprised 30 patients, burn victims, aged between 03 and 40 years old. The patients had between 04% to 27% of Body Surface Burned (SCQ), with the majority of second degree burns. Topical therapy was performed in 30 patients with exudating wounds, while 15 patients received injections of silver sulfadiazine and 15 nanocrystalline silver. Results: Patients who used nanocrystalline silver showed significant improvement of the lesions in addition to decreased exudation and early epitheliazation after the second day of healing, while those who had used silver sulfadiazine began to show improvement from the fourth day of healing. Conclusions: The results with nanocrystalline silver showed a reduced incidence of exudate in comparison with the dressing made with silver sulfadiazine.