|
Skin Adhesive Closes Surgical Wounds, Shuts Out Bacteria
ROCKVILLE, Md.—The FDA has put its seal on the first topical skin sealant to offer bacteria-blocking properties. Poised to make a dent in the incidence of postsurgical infection, Dermabond adhesive (Ethicon/J&J) was found to be 99% effective in protecting against staph, pseudomonas, and E. coli when used to close surgical incisions or trauma lacerations in laboratory studies. In clinical trials, patients receiving the adhesive required less anesthesia and experienced faster healing than those treated with standard wound-closure techniques for the repair of their lacerations. First approved by the FDA in 1998 as a bonding film, the adhesive gained favor among doctors since there are no sutures to remove, decreasing the risk of needlestick injuries. “Unlike earlier tissue adhesives, patients do not need to worry about the strength of Dermabond’s closure,” said surgeon Ronald Lee Nichols, MD, professor of microbiology and immunology at Tulane University. Not meant as a replacement for subcutaneous sutures, the liquid sealant dries in less than three minutes and protects for an average of seven days. The adhesive should not be used on infected or gangrenous wounds.—Lisa Maxbauer
|
