Johnson & Johnson Wound Management Worldwide Introduces Actisorb Silver 220 Antimicrobial Binding Dressing to the U.S.

SOMERVILLE, N.J. -- Johnson & Johnson Wound Management today announced the introduction of Actisorb Silver 220 Antimicrobial Binding Dressing, the first and only primary wound dressing in the United States that combines broad-spectrum antimicrobial action, bacterial toxin management and odor control.

Actisorb Silver 220 dressing has been proven effective in vitro against more than 150 clinically relevant wound pathogens, including antibiotic resistant strains such as Staphylococcus aureus and Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus. (1) As seen in clinical studies of more than 12,400 chronic wounds, the dressing has a proven history of safety and effectiveness. (2)

In a recently published paper it was concluded that Actisorb Silver 220 dressing may be beneficial in the treatment of infected wounds, particularly when colonized by Gram-negative bacteria. The dressing demonstrated a high in vitro endotoxin-binding capacity combined with marked bactericidal activity without releasing Pseudomonas aeruginosa endotoxins into the environment. (3)

Chronic wounds are growing in frequency due to the advancing age of the population and improved diagnosis and education. Each year there are more than 19 million venous, pressure and diabetic ulcers worldwide that require treatment. Infection at the wound site is a significant complication of the wound repair. (4)

Actisorb Silver 220 dressing provides an effective barrier to bacterial penetration and adsorbs offending odor resulting from wounds; the binding properties of the dressing trap bacteria, bacterial toxins and odor. Actisorb Silver 220 dressing may help reduce infection in partial- and full-thickness wounds, including pressure ulcers, venous ulcers, diabetic ulcers, first- and second-degree burns, donor sites and surgical wounds. It is suitable for use under compression bandaging.

Actisorb Silver 220 dressing should not be used on third-degree burns or on patients with known sensitivity to silver.

Johnson & Johnson Wound Management, a division of Ethicon, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson company, continues Johnson & Johnson's 100-year commitment to skin and wound care today with inventive products for chronic and acute wound management, burn care and hemostasis.

(1) Data on File

(2) Treatment of chronic wounds with Actisorb - Overview of five

observational studies including 12,444 documented cases, presented

by R. Stadler, May 2002.

(3) Muller G, Winkler Y, Kramer A. Antibacterial activity and endotoxin-

binding capacity of Actisorb Silver 220. Journal of Hospital

Infections 2003; 53; 211-214.

(4) Worldwide Wound Management 2002-2012: Products, Technologies & Market

Opportunities, Report S200, February 2003, MedMarket Diligence, LLC.

Source: Ethicon, Inc.