ConvaTec Launches New AQUACEL® Ag EXTRA™ Wound Dressing With Hydrofiber® Technology For At Risk And Infected Wounds

BALTIMORE, Sept. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- ConvaTec, a world-leading developer of innovative medical technologies for community and hospital care, today announced the U.S. introduction of AQUACEL^® Ag EXTRA™ wound dressing, incorporating the market-leading and proprietary Hydrofiber^® Technology. The new dressing incorporates strengthening fibers, making it especially appropriate for managing highly exuding wounds when strength and absorbency is needed most. The dressing has been proven effective against resistant bacteria of growing concern in hospitals today.^1,2* The company introduced AQUACEL® Ag EXTRA™ for the first time at the fall meeting of the Symposium on Advanced Wound Care in Baltimore, Maryland.

AQUACEL^® Ag EXTRA™ wound dressing was developed in response to customers' challenges to meet the ever-growing health demands associated with wound care. The dressing is designed to be nine times stronger and to give an increased absorbency of 50% over current AQUACEL^® Ag wound dressing.³ AQUACEL^® Ag EXTRA™ wound dressing with ionic silver, cleared for the same indications as AQUACEL^® Ag wound dressing, will be specifically suitable for managing moderate to highly exuding wounds where infection by deadly bacteria is identified or at risk to be present.

"Clinicians have come to rely on the clinical and economic benefits of our family of AQUACEL^® and AQUACEL^® Ag dressings for more than 15 years. We are pleased to introduce AQUACEL^® Ag EXTRA™ wound dressing that will provide them the additional confidence they need when managing a wound that needs more absorbency and may be infected," said Kevin Leach, Vice President, Americas Wound Therapeutics and Critical Care, ConvaTec.

AQUACEL^® Ag wound dressings incorporate the antimicrobial action of ionic silver, and are well-proven through a number of in vitro studies, to kill a broad spectrum of difficult-to-treat pathogens^{1, 4-6} including certain deadly superbugs such as E. coli, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa within 30 minutes of exposure to the dressing,¹ for up to 7 days.²

AQUACEL^® Ag EXTRA™ dressings can be used in combination with the recently launched AQUACEL^® Foam dressings. AQUACEL^® Foam dressings can be used as a cover dressing over AQUACEL^® Ag EXTRA™ dressings, providing additional patient comfort and even more absorbency when needed.

The new dressings come in four sizes: 2"x2" (5x5cm), 4"x5" (10x12cm), 6"x6" (15x15cm), and 8"x12" (20x30cm). For more information, call our Customer Relations Center at 800-422-8811 or visit convatec.com.

Advanced Wound Dressings with Hydrofiber^® Technology from ConvaTec
ConvaTec is the only company to offer wound dressings with Hydrofiber^® Technology that gel on contact with fluid, providing clinicians and patients with substantial wound care benefits. Used for a wide range of moderate to highly exuding chronic and acute wounds, including surgical, trauma and burn wounds, AQUACEL^® and AQUACEL^® Ag dressings are soft, absorbent, non-woven wound dressings available in a variety of shapes, sizes and formats, including foam. As demonstrated time and again in a number of in vitro studies, this unique gelling action enables the dressings to lock in exudate and its harmful components^4,5,6 and micro-contour closely to the wound bed⁷ in response to changing wound conditions.

About ConvaTec

ConvaTec is a leading developer and marketer of innovative medical technologies that have helped improve the lives of millions of people worldwide. With four key focus areas – Ostomy Care, Wound Therapeutics, Continence and Critical Care and Infusion Devices – ConvaTec products support healthcare professionals from the hospital to the community health setting. For more information please visit www.convatec.com.

*AQUACEL^® Ag EXTRA™ dressings have the same antimicrobial activity and Hydrofiber™ Technology as AQUACEL^® Ag dressings.

^©/™ ConvaTec Inc.

^© 2012 ConvaTec Inc.                                                                                            

¹ Jones SA, Bowler PG, Walker M, Parsons D. Controlling wound bioburden with a novel silver-containing Hydrofiber dressing. Wound Repair Regen. 2004; 12(3):288-294.

² Bowler PG, Jones SA,Walker M, Parsons D. Microbicidal properties of a silver-containing Hydrofiber^® dressing against a variety of burn wound pathogens. J Burn Care Rehabil. 2004;25(2):192-196.

³ Bugedo A, Bowler F, Bishop SM, 2012. Assessment of the in vitro physical properties of AQUACEL® Ag Extra™ and AQUACEL® Ag dressings. Technical Assessment. WHRI3602 TA235. 2012, Data on File, ConvaTec Inc.

⁴ Walker M, Hobot JA, Newman GR, Bowler PG. Scanning electron microscopic examination of bacterial immobilization in a carboxymethylcellulose (Aquacel) and alginate dressings. Biomaterials. 2003;24:883-890.

⁵ Waring MJ, Parsons D. Physico-chemical characterization of carboxymethylated spun cellulose fibres. Biomaterials. 2001;22:903-912.

⁶ Walker M, Bowler PG, Cochrane CA. In vitro studies to show sequestration of matrix metalloproteinases by silver-containing wound care products. Ostomy Wound Manage. 2007;53(9):18-25.

⁷ Jones SA, Bowler PG, Walker M. Antimicrobial activity of silver-containing dressings is influenced by dressing conformability with a wound surface. Wounds. 2005;17(9):263-270.

SOURCE ConvaTec