Efficacy of antimicrobial activity of slow release silver nanoparticles dressing in post-cardiac surgery mediastinitis

We report our preliminary experience in post-cardiac surgery mediastinitis using a recently introduced silver-releasing dressing claiming prompt antibacterial activity. Acticoat, a silver nanoparticles slow release dressing was used in four patients with documented post-cardiac surgery mediastinitis and persistently positive microbiological cultures despite vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) therapy. In all four patients negative cultures were obtained within a maximum of 72 h and patients were discharged within a maximum of 20 days.