Wound-Care Technology Offers Infection Indication To Dye For
November 9, 2010
An indicator dye can be incorporated into dressings to provide a visual cue for infection. |
An indicator dye developed by German researchers could simplify wound care while improving infection prevention.
Upon detecting the presence of an infection, an indicator dye provides a visual cue in the form of a color change to healthcare workers that treatment is needed. In addition to offering a helpful prompt to personnel, the dye eliminates the need for dressing removal in order to visually inspect the wound for signs of infection. This feature is especially beneficial, according to the scientists, because the act of removing the dressing to check for infection can be counterproductive, as wound exposure can present an opportunity for germs and bacteria to enter the site.
"We have developed an indicator dye which reacts to different pH values, and we have integrated it into a dressing and a plaster," explains Sabine Trupp, scientist at the Fraunhofer Research Institution for Modular Solid State Technologies EMFT (Munich). "Healthy skin and healed wounds usually show a pH value of below 5. If this value increases, it is shifting from the acid to the alkaline range, which indicates complications in the healing of the wound. If the pH value is between 6.5 and 8.5 an infection is frequently present and the indicator color strip turns purple."
In order to produce an effective color strip, the scientists had to ensure that the dye remained chemically stable when bonded to the dressing's fibers and that it did not enter the wound. Demonstrating an identifiable color change and reacting in the correct pH range were additional obstacles that had to be overcome.
Initial testing proved promising, the scientists state. They are now looking for industrial partners to help take their prototype to the next level. Along with the color-change concept, the researchers are also exploring the potential incorporation of optical sensor modules in the dressing to provide further information.
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