SURGICAL DRESSING

Abstract: A surgical dressing comprises activated charcoal, prefer­ ably as activated charcoal cloth, which is impregnated with an anti-microbial agent, the adsorptive sites of the activated charcoal being no more than 20% saturated with the anti-microbial agent. The antimicrobial agent is preferably iodine, in an amount which causes approximately 5% saturation of the adsorptive sites of the activated charcoal. An alternative dressing comprises a foamed elastomer filled with activated charcoal powder which has been impregnated up to 20% saturation with anti-microbial agent.

Description: SURGICAL DRESSINGS This invention relates to surgical dressings. Activated charcoal has long been known, and has often been used, for example, in gas masks for removing noxious chemicals from the air. British Patent Specification No. 1,301,101 discloses an activated carbon cloth, produced by carbonising cellulosic cloth, e.g. a woven viscous rayon fabric, and activating the carbonised cloth. This cloth can sorb at least 50 Ó of its own weight of carbon tetrachloride, and has found medical use by virtue of its ability to remove offensive odours from heavily-infected wounds, such as varicose ulcers. (See, for example, the report by Butcher et al in Nursing Mirror, April 15, 1976, 64). More recently, it has been realised that activated carbon cloth adsorbs bacteria. It has nct been suggested that such activated carbon cloth is capable of killing bacteria, and nor have surgical dressings comprising the cloth been suggested for such use. British Patent Specification No. 386,067, published as long ago as 1933, discloses activated carbonised fabric which is stated to kill or weaken bacteria. Also disclosed in this Patent Specification are surgical and like dressings constituted by the activated carbonised fabric or by an entangled mass of carbonised fibres. By the use of such carbonised fabric or entangled mass, the capillary action of the fibres is stated to be utilised to material advantage. The dressings are stated to be particularly suitable to act as supports for various chemical substances intended to act either therapeutically or aseptically. Thus, for example, it is stated that the dressings will hold, in considerable quantities, iodine, formol, lime, oxygen, bacillary toxines, and the like. A known disadvantage of applying iodine to wounds in a highly labile form, for example as aqueous alcoholic solutions and the like, is that it discolours, irritates, and often injures skin and wounds when used for treating biologic tissues. It has been attempted to eliminate this disadvantage of iodine solutions by complexing iodine to water-soluble organic carriers such as polyvinylpyrrolidone and the like. Water-soluble complexes of this type, which are usually called iodophors, have been known for a long time, but presently available water-soluble iodophors have a tendency to release iodine too quickly. As a consequence, the disinfecting and sterilising effect of the water-soluble iodophor may cease very rapidly. Attempts have been made to reduce the lability of the iodine in water-soluble iodophors by absorbing and/or adsorbing the iodophors to different soluble and insoluble materials such as metal salts, clay, talc etc. To the same end, effort has been concentrated more recently on the development of insoluble iodophors. For example, British Patent Specification No. 2,031,441 discloses an insoluble complex of iodine with polypyrrolidone, and U.S. Specification No. 4,010,259 discloses insoluble complexes of iodine with various crosslinked polysaccharides. We have now found that a surgical dressing of improve prdperties is obtained by providing an activated charcoal cloth of which the adsorptive sites are no more than 20" saturated with iodine or other antimicrobial agent. 20S saturation with iodine is usually equivalent to about 5 by weight of iodine on the cloth. By binding the antimicrobial agent such as iodine to the absorptive sites of the cloth, the above-described disadvantages of highly labile iodine are avoided. Moreover, in contradistinction to the teachings of British Patent Specification No. 386,067, no reliance is placed oi capillary action which, according to that Specification, utilised to material advantage. Furthermore, our use of no more antimicrobial agent than is sufficient to saturate 20 ó of the adsorptive sites on the cloth (in contrast to the considerable quantities of antimicrobial agent mentioned in Specification No. 386,067) leaves at least 80% of the adsorptive sites available to adsorb microorganisms, e.g. bacteria, and also offensive odours. According to the present invention, there is provided a surgical dressing comprising activated charcoal impregnated with an anti-microbial agent, the adsorptive sites of the activated charcoal being no more than 20dud saturated with the anti-microbial agent. A surgical dressing in accordance with the present invention provides an agent in sufficient amount for killing micro-organisms as well as being able to adsorb micro-organisms, e.g. bacteria, and odours. Forms of activated charcoal other than charcoal cloth, for example activated charcoal powder, may be impregnated and incorporated into surgical dressings in accordance with the present invention. The anti-microbial agent may be, for example, a biocide such as a bacteriocide, a fungicide or a sporicide, or a bacteriostatic agent. Examples of anti-microbial agents which may be used in the present invention are iodine, chlorhexidine, bronopol, dibromopropamidine isethionate, chlorinated phenols, and antibiotics. It will be understood that surgical dressing as used herein is intended to embrace all articles which are applied to the body, particularly with the intention of reducing or preventing infection, or absorbing body fluids. Included in the term "surgical dressings" are bandages, surgical sponges and packs, ward dressings of the kind sold under the Registered Trade Mark "STERIPAD", adhesive dressings, and such articles as tampons which may be used, for example, in the treatment of candidal vaginitis (vaginal thrush). The latter articles may, in accordance with the present invention, comprise activated charcoal impregnated with miconazole. A great advantage of activated charcoal on which an anti-microbial agent has been adsorbed is that it may be applied to an infected wound, for example, without the antimicrobial agent being taken up systemically. This allows the use of powerful biocides, such as iodine, which might cause undesirable side effects if applied topically in considerable quantity. It is particularly preferred that the activated charcoal is in the form of an activated charcoal cloth. Also provided by the present invention is a sheet or web of activated charcoal cloth, impregnated with an anti-microbial agent, for use in surgical dressings. The anti-microbial agent is preferably iodine. Charcoal cloth may be impregnated with iodine in a variety of ways. For example, iodine may be sublimed in the presence of activated charcoal cloth, so that the iodine is adsorbed from the vapour phase. Activated charcoal cloth is available from Charcoal Cloth Limited, 21 Haviland Road, Ferndown Industrial Estate, Wimbourne, Dorset. A preferred method of impregnating activated charcoal cloth comprises the step of immersing the cloth in a- solution of elemental iodine in, for example, aqueous potassium iodide. By selecting the volume and concentration of the iodine solution used, and by immersing the cloth in the solution until the latter is decolourised, it is possible accurately to control the weight of iodine which is adsorbed onto the cloth. Since it is essential to the present invention that the adsorptive sites of the activated charcoal cloth be no more than 20 ó saturated with iodine, it is necessary to know the weight of iodine which must be adsorbed onto a given amount of the cloth to achieve 100S saturation of the adsorptive sites. This may be determined as follows: A piece of the activated charcoal cloth is weighed and then immersed in a 0.1M solution of iodine in aqueous potassium iodide, until equilibrium is reached. Such equilibrium will usually have been reached within 5 minutes of immersing the cloth in the solution. If the solution becomes decolourised by the cloth before 5 minutes have elapsed, more iodine is added until the cloth is no longer able completely to decolourise the solution. The cloth is then removed from the solution, rinsed in deionised water and dried at room temperature. The dried cloth is then reweighed, and the weight of the adsorbed iodine calculated. This is the weight of iodine required to achieve 100of saturation of the adsorptive sites of the piece of cloth tested. It will be appreciated that the same procedure may be used to determine the amount of iodine required for 100% saturation of other forms of activated charcoal, and that analogous procedures will be applicable to measuring the amount of other anti-microbial agents required for 100S saturation. The bacteriocidal properties of activated charcoal cloth, which had been impregnated to varying degrees with iodine, were measured in two different ways, referred to herein as the shaking test and the agar plate test. For both tests, duplicate samples of charcoal cloth were impregnated to 0.1, 1, 5, 20 and 100S of saturation by immersion in iodine in aqueous potassium iodide and then washed and dried. 100% saturation required 0.0095 g of iodine per cm2 of charcoal cloth. As a control, charcoal cloth itself was also tested for bacteriocidal properties. The specimens of cloth were tested for their ability to kill Escherichia coli. An overnight culture in nutrient broth was prepared from a laboratory stock culture of the test organism. The bacteria from the overnight culture were washed three times with sterile distilled water by centrifugation at 3000 r.p.m. They were then resuspended in sterile distilled water to give a concentration of approximately 107 orgs/ml. Aliquots (10 ml) of the bacterial suspension were prepared in sterile screwcap bottles. Square pieces (7.5 x 7.5 cm) of each of the test specimens of cloth were introduced into the bottles of bacterial suspension. A count was performed on the suspension in each bottle (0 min), the bottles were shaken for 15 minutes on a mechanical wrist-action shaker and a second count was then made on the suspension in each bottle (15 min). Each sample of cloth was removed aseptically from the suspension in contact with it, drained to remove excess moisture, and introduced into sterile distilled water (10 ml) contained in fresh sterile bottles. These bottles were then shaken for 15 minutes, after which counts were performed on the resulting suspensions (wash). All bacterial counts were performed using sterile phosphate buffer pH 7.5 as diluent and the standard pour plate technique using nutrient agar. For the agar plate test, each sample of cloth was then laid in contact with nutrient agar and the agar examined for bacterial growth after incubation at 37at. The results of these tests are shown in Table I. TABLE I EMI8.1 SHAKING <SEP> TEST <SEP> AGAR <SEP> TEST <tb> Degree <SEP> of <SEP> impregnation <SEP> 0 <SEP> min <SEP> 15 <SEP> min <SEP> Wash <tb> 0% <SEP> 2x107 <SEP> 6x105 <SEP> 1.3x105 <SEP> Growth <tb> 0.1% <SEP> 9x106 <SEP> 1x103 <SEP> 1x101 <SEP> " <tb> 3x107 <SEP> 6x101 <SEP> 1x101 <SEP> " <tb> 1% <SEP> 2x106 <SEP> 5x102 <SEP> 0 <SEP> " <tb> 8x106 <SEP> 7x102 <SEP> 1x101 <SEP> " <tb> 5% <SEP> 2x107 <SEP> 0 <SEP> 0 <SEP> No <SEP> Growth <tb> 3x107 <SEP> 2x102 <SEP> 0 <SEP> " <tb> 20% <SEP> 2x107 <SEP> 2x101 <SEP> 0 <SEP> " <tb> 5x107 <SEP> 8x101 <SEP> 0 <SEP> " <tb> It will be seen from Table I that the activated charcoal cloth itself is substantially non-biocidal. However, impregnation with even very small quantities of iodine is sufficient to improve greatly the performance of activated charcoal cloth in reducing the viable count of bacteria in aqueous suspensions. For example, even when only 5 of the maximum possible amount of iodine had been adsorbed, the number of bacteria remaining in suspension after shaking with the cloth was reduced by 5 or 7 orders of magnitude. Furthermore, no viable organisms could be found on, or washed from, the cloth. At 5 saturation with iodine, of course, 95 of the adsorptive sites on the charcoal cloth are still available to adsorb toxins or odiferous molecules. It is known to use charcoal powder as a filler for foamed elastomeric resins, for use in carpet backings or insoles for shoes. Such a form of charcoal may be used in dressings according to the present invention but the charcoal must, of course, be impregnated with an antimicrobial agent to a saturation level of no more than 20%. The present invention also provides a foamed elastomer comprising activated charcoal powder impregnated to no more than 200 saturation with an anti-microbial agent, for use in surgical dressings. The activated charcoal powder may be impregnated with iodine or any other antimicrobial agent either before or after dispersal in the foam compound. A preferred method of impregnating the charcoal powder after dispersed in the foam compound is to diffuse the anti-microbial agent into the foam after the foam has been cured. This method is particularly advantageous if the foam compound.used requires a relatively high temperature for curing, since such high temperatures might otherwise cause vaporisation or decomposition of the anti-microbial agent. The charcoal powder may be dispersed in the foam compound before, during or after foaming. The elastomeric based foam compound may be based upon a natural rubber latex, a styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) latex or any other similar latex or mixture of these. It is particularly advantageous that the charcoal powder or impregnated charcoal powder be present in an amount which is 5 to 50 of the weight of the foamed compound and preferably 10 to 20 ó. Providing always that an open cell foam is produced, or that the foam may by some suitable means be converted into an open cell foam, then it is possible to use activated charcoal powder as a filler in a foam produced by an extrusion foaming process. Examples of such foams are PVC and the class of foams known as polyurethanes. The anti-microbial properties of a foamed elastomer comprising iodine-impregnated activated charcoal were examined by an in vitro test method, namely that of Thomas & Russell (F. Thomas & A. D. Russell Microbios Letters 1976, 2, 169-177). Bacteria were cultured overnight in a nutrient broth and portions (0.2 ml.) were transferred to, and spread over, the surface of an agar medium which was either nutrient agar or 5 blood agar. On to this were then laid pieces (10 x 10 cm.) of the material under examination. Four materials were tested, namely (1) Bactigras (tulle containing 0.5 Ó chlorhexidine acetate in yellow soft paraffin) (2) Sofra-tulle (containing 1 framycetin sulphate in white soft paraffin and wool fat base) (3) SBR foam containing 6 ó charcoal with 5% adsorbed iodine (4) 1 chlorhexidine on filter-paper. The results of the test are set out in Table II, from which it can be seen that the iodine-containing SBR foam compares favourably with conventional wound dressings in respect of its activity against Staph. aureus in particular and also against the other three organisms testec TABLE II Zone of Inhibition in mm EMI11.1 Staph. <SEP> aureus <SEP> E. <SEP> coli <SEP> Ps. <SEP> aeruginosa <SEP> S. <SEP> cerevisiae <SEP> Growth <SEP> under <tb> Test <SEP> Material <tb> BA <SEP> NA <SEP> BA <SEP> NA <SEP> BA <SEP> NA <SEP> Sabouraud <SEP> Dressing <tb> BACTIGRAS <SEP> 0.5* <SEP> 2* <SEP> 0.5* <SEP> 1* <SEP> 0* <SEP> 0* <SEP> 0* <SEP> + <tb> SOFRA-TULLE <SEP> 0* <SEP> 3* <SEP> 0* <SEP> 2* <SEP> 0* <SEP> 0* <SEP> 0* <SEP> + <tb> IODINE <SEP> IMPREGNATED <SEP> 5+ <SEP> 13 <SEP> 0 <SEP> 4 <SEP> 0 <SEP> 2 <SEP> 0 <SEP> SBR <SEP> FOAM <tb> 1% <SEP> CHLORHEXIDINE <tb> 3 <SEP> 5 <SEP> 2 <SEP> 4 <SEP> 1 <SEP> 3 <SEP> 2.5 <SEP> FILTER <SEP> PAPER <SEP> CONTROL <tb> * Denote growth between weave of dressing. The anti-microbial properties of charcoal cloth with adsorbed iodine, and of foamed SBR comprising iodineimpregnated activated charcoal were also examined by an in vivo assay, the procedure for which was as follows: Standard 5 cm2 circular full-thickness excisions were made on the mid-dorsum of each of 60 anesthetized, clipped male 500 g HaFtley strain guinea pigs supplied by Charles River Laboratories, New Springville, New York. The procedure was performed on two sets of 30 guinea pigs each, with each set including a standard control group of 5 guinea pigs whose wounds were treated with an occlusive polyvinylidine chloride film (SARANWRAP, The Dow Chemical Company, Indianapolis, Indiana) attached to a DERMICEL taffeta Tape backing to prevent wrinkling of the dressing. All experimental dressings were also covered with these standard occlusive dressings to prevent drying of the wound, and the combined dressing was held in place with ELASTIKON Elastic Tape as an exterior wrapping on all 60 animals. This occlusive dressing served the dual purpose of permitting optimal repair since air exposed excisions contract less than half as rapidly as occluded excisions, and also of permitting maximal proliferation of microorganisms in the wound bed. Wounds on 5 guinea pigs were treated with each experimental dressing immediately after wounding. The experimental dressing extended beyond the edges of the 25 cm2 circular occlusive dressing, and was held in place by wound clipping it to the exter-ior ELASTIKON wrapping. Auxiliary observations recorded on the eighth day after wounding when the animals were sacrificed, included presence or absence of wound rim edema and undermining and focal erosions or sparsity of granulation tissue within the wound bed. Wound surface micro-organisms were sampled by surface swabbing with CALGISWABS on day 4 after wounding. Each swab was dispersed by vortexing into 10 ml of 1 percent sodium citrate. Serial dilutions were made and plated on Trypticase Soy Agar. After the plates were incubated for 48 hours at 35 C, the colony forming units were counted. A hundredfold or greater reduction in wound surface colony forming units sampled from an experimentally dressed wound compared with the same-study occluded control wounds was deemed a significant anti-bacterial effect. The results of this test are shown in Table III for four different dressings, namely A) a soft weave fabric control, B) charcoal cloth with iodine adsorbed to 20 < saturation, C) polycoated KEYBACK wound dressing covered with SBR foam containing activated charcoal with 20% adsorbed iodine, D) polycoated KEYBACK wound dressing, covered with SBR foam with activated charcoal filler, the filled foam having been treated with iodine solution to 20 ' saturation. TABLE III Number of wounds Dressing showing significant anti-bacterial effect after 4 days/Total A 0/5 B 3/5 C 2/5 D 3/5 The surgical dressing of the present invention may be of any suitable form. Many conventional designs of dressing are envisaged as being suitable for the practice of the present invention. Examples of suitable designs are now described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a surgical dressing in accordance with the invention, Figure 2 is a schematic section on A-A of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a second surgical dressing in accordance with the invention, Figure 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a third dressing, and Figure 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an adhesive dressing which incorporates the dressing of Figure 4. Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a simple dressing according to the present'invention comprises a square of iodine-impregnated charcoal cloth 1, sandwiched between two larger squares 3,5 of spun-bonded porous nylon fabric. The squares 3,5 are fastened to each other by heat-welding along lines 7 which are formed a short distance in from each edge of the squares. By this means the charcoal cloth 1 is fully enclosed within a pouch of porous nylon fabric. A dressing of this sort may conveniently be sterilised by gamma irradiation and packaged within a sterile, waterproof and hermetically-sealed envelope. Figure 3 illustrates an alternative construction of dressing, comprising a backing sheet 9 of foamed elastomeric resin. The edges 11 of the backing sheet are thickened so as to form a shallow well in which a piece of impregnated charcoal cloth 13 is positioned. The cloth 13 is covered by a highly porous fabric layer 15, for example an apertured non-woven web, which is attached to the edges 11 of the backing sheet 9 by adhesive or by welding. The dressing may be made as a continuous strip in which the fabric layer is attached to the backing sheet only by the longitudinal edges. Such a strip may then be cut to the desired size. Alternatively, the dressing may be made in pre-formed squares or rectangles, in which case it is desirable that the fabric layer is attached to the backing sheet by all four edges. Figure 4 shows an alternative form of dressing which may be made in continuous lengths. A strip 17 of highly porous fabric is formed into a sleeve by folding the longitudinal edges over and fastening them together by a line of adhesive 19. The sleeve so formed contains a strip 21 of impregnated charcoal cloth, and a thicker strip of highly absorbent lint 23. The lint serves to absorb fluids which are exuded by the wound over which the dressing is placed. In some applications it will be convenient to incorporate impregnated charcoal into a conventional sticking plaster. Figure 5 illustrates a sticking plaster of this type. The sticking plaster comprises an adhesive-coated backing sheet 25 of plastics material which is preferably perforated. In the central portion of the backing sheet 25 is placed an absorbent pad 27, such as a short length taken from the continuous dressing illustrated in Figure 4. The absorbent pad 27 is protected from becoming soiled before use by removable, overlapping plastics films 31, 33 which are held in place by the adhesive regions 29 round the edge of the backing sheet 25. In use, the films 31, 33 are peeled from the backing sheet, thus exposing the adhesive regions 29, in the manner of a conventional sticking plaster. The plaster is then ready for application to the patient. It will be appreciated that it is also possible simply to apply, for example, iodine-impregnated activated charcoal cloth or an elastomeric foam pad filled with iodine-impregnated activated charcoal, to a wound and to hold it in position by means of a conventional bandage or adhesive tape. Preferably, the dressings are applied to the patient so as to bring the impregnated charcoal as near as possible to the infected site. If, however, impregnated charcoal cloth is to be used, it is desirable that at least one layer of fabric is interposed between the infected site and the impregnated cloth, since the latter has a slight tendency to produce free particles of charcoal, which might cause distress to the patient if deposited on the wound or surrounding skin. Ideally, the fabric used is a specialist non-adherent wound contact layer, such as N-A (Trade Mark) Dressing, which may be removed from the majority of wounds without trauma. Each embodiment of surgical dressing described above with reference to the Drawings comprises an envelope or sleeve containing the activated charcoal cloth, the envelope or sleeve defining a facing layer for contacting the wound. The activated charcoal cloth may be impregnated with varying amounts of anti-microbial agent especially iodine, up to a maximum of 20 saturation. For example, the degree of saturation may be as described above with reference to Table I, depending on the end-use of the dressing.

Claims: Claims: 1. A surgical dressing comprising activated charcoal impregnated with an anti-microbial agent, the adsorptive sites of the activated charcoal being no more than 20% saturated with the anti-microbial agent. 2. A dressing according to claim l wherein said activated charcoal is in the form of charcoal cloth. 3. A dressing according to claim l wherein said activated charcoal is in the form of powdered charcoal distributed in a foamed elastomeric resin. 4. A dressing according to any preceding claim wherein said anti-microbial agent is iodine. 5. A dressing according to any preceding claim wherein the adsorptive sites of the activated charcoal are about 5% saturated with the anti-microbial agent. 6. A tampon comprising activated charcoal impregnated i with miconazole, the adsorptive sites of the activated charcoal being no more than 20% saturated with miconazole. 7. A sheet or web of activated charcoal cloth impregnated with an anti-microbial agent, the adsorptive sites of the activated charcoal being no more than 20% saturated with the anti-microbial agent. 8. A method of making a sheet or web of activated charcoal cloth according to claim 7 comprising the step of immersing said cloth in a solution of elemental iodine in aqueous potassium iodide. 9. A foamed elastomer comprising activated charcoal powder impregnated with an anti-microbial agent, the adsorptive sites of the activated charcoal being no more than 20 saturated with the anti-microbial agent. 10. A method of making a foamed elastomer according to claim 9 comprising the step of diffusing the antimicrobial agent into the foam and curing the foam.

Inventors: JACKSON, STUART WINDUST
Applicants: JOHNSON & JOHNSON PRODUCTS INC.
Application year: 1981
Main classification: A61L15
IPC codes: A61B19, A61L15