section name header

Evidence summaries

Alginate Dressings for Treating Pressure Ulcers

There is insufficient evidence on the effects of alginate dressings compared with alternative treatments. Level of evidence: "D"

The quality of evidence is downgraded by study quality, indirectness (only short-term outcomes reported) and imprecise results.

Summary

A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included 6 studies with a total of 336 subjects. The included studies compared alginate dressings with six other interventions that included: hydrocolloid dressings, silver containing alginate dressings, and radiant heat therapy. Each of the six comparisons included just one study and these had limited participant numbers and short follow-up times. All the evidence was of low or very low quality. Where data were available there was no evidence of a difference between alginate dressings and alternative treatments in terms of complete wound healing or adverse events.

Clinical comments

Note

Date of latest search:

References

  • Dumville JC, Keogh SJ, Liu Z et al. Alginate dressings for treating pressure ulcers. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2015;(5):CD011277. [PubMed]

Primary/Secondary Keywords