What is Hydrofera Blue?
Hydrofera Blue is a product which is made of a polyvinyl alcohol sponge impregnated with Methylene Blue and Gentian Violet, substances which have been in use for over 50 years and are proven to provide broad-spectrum bacteriostatic protection.
What types of wounds can Hydrofera Blue be used on?
Hydrofera Blue is highly absorptive and is effective against numerous bacteria, including MRSA and VRE. It can be used on a variety of wounds, including:
- Pressure ulcers
- Venous stasis ulcers
- Radiation burns*
- Orthopedic wounds
- Arterial ulcers
- Donor sites
- Lacerations/abrasions
- Post-op incisions
*Hydrofera Blue is not indicated for the treatment of third-degree burns.
Advantages of Hydrofera Blue
Hydrofera Blue dressings are highly absorptive and can be used on wounds which are draining heavily. They are also very durable and can be compressed to 1/10th their normal size. They are quite soft and unlikely to damage or irritate healthy tissue. Hydrofera Blue is biocompatible and is highly resistant to chemicals.
How to use Hydrofera Blue dressings
The dressing should be wet with sterile normal saline or sterile water. Squeeze the dressing and leave some fluid in for drier wounds; for heavily exudating wounds, squeeze the dressing until it is almost dry. Position the dressing so that it is in contact with the wound. Hydrofera Blue may be used as a packing or as a wound cover, overlapping the edges of the wound by at least 1 inch.
It is important to make sure that the dressing does not completely dry out. The dressing should be changed every one to three days, or when the area of dressing over the wound becomes saturated. Also, if the dressing turns white, this indicates that it has used all its antimicrobial substance, and the dressing should be changed.
Cover Dressings
Because it is so important to ensure that the Hydrofera Blue dressing does not dry out, care should be taken to choose an appropriate cover dressing:
If the wound bed is dry, a cover dressing which prevents the wicking away of moisture should be chosen. Good examples of appropriate cover dressings may include hydrocolloids, adhesive foams, film dressings, or composite dressings.
If the wound bed is draining heavily, a dressing which will absorb this excess moisture should be chosen. ABD pads, foam dressings and composites may be used to serve this purpose. When the outer dressings are soaked, they should be removed, but the Hydrofera Blue dressing may be left in place until it changes color to white, at which time it should be changed.
Hydrofera Blue is a good multi-purpose dressing that can be used to treat a variety of wounds and is effective against a variety of microbes, including VRE and MRSA. The main components, Gentian Violet and Methylene Blue, have been used for many years and have proven to be safe. A major advantage of the dressing is its ability to handle large amounts of exudate, its durability, and its ability to conform to virtually any wound bed size or shape.
If you are interested in learning more about wound care management, or are ready to take the next step in becoming a certified wound care specialist, please contact us for more information. Woundeducators.com is dedicated to bringing you the most current information in wound care available.
