Over the next few weeks, we will use this blog to discuss some interesting and innovative products that are currently being used to treat wounds.  This week, we will consider AmeriGel® Hydrogel Saturated Gauze Dressing.

A unique hydrogel with antimicrobial properties

AmeriGel Hydrogel Saturated Gauze Dressing (AmeriGel) is the only impregnated gauze dressing available that contains Oakin®, a proprietary oak extract historically used to treat a variety of skin problems and conditions. Oakin contains antimicrobial properties proven in vitro to be bactericidal against 51 gram+ / gram− microorganisms, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE). Other constituents of AmeriGel include zinc acetate, known for its skin-protective properties, and polyethylene glycol which helps to maintain a moist-wound environment.
 
AmeriGel pads are indicated for stage I-IV pressure ulcers, venous stasis ulcers, diabetic skin ulcers, first and second degree burns, post-surgical incisions, cuts and abrasions. The dressing stays moist for up to seven days and eradicates 99.2% of MRSA bacteria within 24 hours.¹ At a time when bacterial infections are becoming more difficult to manage,  the effectiveness of AmeriGel against increasingly antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains is invaluable. AmeriGel also increases incorporation rates of Bioengineered Alternative Tissue (BAT) and accelerates healing.²

AmeriGel is believed to derive its effectiveness through a combination of mechanisms, including:

• Balancing the mix of MMPs and TIMPs in the wound
• Proliferating proteins to the wound site
• Decreasing cell-membrane permeability
• Promoting development of new granulation tissue
• Prompting wound contracture

A 50-patient peer-reviewed, published case series revealed the benefits of using AmeriGel following BAT application². Results included substantially improved incorporation rates, increased frequency of wound closure, decreased time to achieve wound closure and a reduction in overall treatment costs. In one particularly striking case, a 63 year-old male with type II diabetes and severe venous insufficiency in the left leg presented with a full thickness ulceration on this leg. The patient was advised to use AmeriGel with compression, and the wound showed remarkable healing within one week.

{case study (1). Image courtesy of AmeriGel}	{case study (2). Image courtesy of AmeriGel }

Impregnated hydrogel dressings are just one type of product covered in the widely recognized online Woundeducators.com certification courses. WoundEducators.com offers the most comprehensive online wound care information available, and can help you take the next step in your career. Contact us today for more information. Learn more about wound care certification. 

References
1. AmeriGel Hydrogel Saturated Gauze Dressing.  BioScience Lab's (study available upon request).
2. Moore J. Creating the Ideal Microcosm for Rapid Incorporation of Bioengineered Alternative Tissues Using An Advanced Hydrogel Impregnated Gauze Dressing: A Case Series. The Foot & Ankle Journal 2008; 1(9): ² 
3. Company Information, Case Study #403