Experimental evaluation of bacterial barrier properties of ‘Hydron’ films

Summary

‘Hydron’ is a new synthetic environmental barrier made directly on the wound surface by alternately spraying polyethylene glycel-400, which is a liquid, and polyhydroxymethyle methacrylate powder. Different thicknesses of ‘Hydron’ film were tested as barriers to bacterial penetration while still allowing evaporation from the wound and permitting antibiotics applied to the surface of the film to pass through to the wound. Six test strains of known sensitivity were used, three of Staphylococcus aureus and three of Pseudomonas pyocyaneus. The study proved convincingly that the thicker type II and type III films were impermeable to bacteria but allowed evaporation and permitted antibiotics applied to the surface to get through it to the wound. Type I film, using only two layers of fluid and one layer of powder is ineffective as a barrier to bacteria.