The influence of different dressings on the pH of the wound environment.

OBJECTIVE This study examines the effect of various wound dressings on the pH levels of a wound, using a simulated wound environment. METHOD The pH levels of a 4 different wound dressings (manuka honey dressing, sodium carboxymethylcellulose hydrofiber dressing, polyhydrated ionogen-coated polymer mesh dressing, and a protease modulating collagen cellulose dressing) were tested in a simulated horse serum wound environment. The effect of local buffering was observed and pH changes in real time were measured. RESULTS All dressings were found to have low pH (below pH 4), with the lowest being the protease modulating collage cellulose dressing, with a pH of 2.3. The dressing with the strongest acid concentration was the polyhydrated, ionogen-coated, polymer mesh dressing. CONCLUSION The low pH and strong acidic nature of the dressing investigated indicate that they may play a role in influencing the healing process in a wound. DECLARATION OF INTEREST The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare. This study was funded by the EPSRC.