Clinical effectiveness and safety of bacterial cellulose dressings in the management of skin wounds: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Jiaying Wei, Zechuan Jin, Feng Zhang, Hong LiuObjective:
The global impact of skin injuries is substantial, compromising the wellbeing of affected individuals. Bacterial cellulose is gaining traction as a prospective dressing material due to its distinct characteristics. Nevertheless, its clinical efficacy and safety warrant detailed investigation. This systematic examination and meta-analysis assessed the healing efficacy and safety parameters of bacterial cellulose used as a dressing in skin injury management.
Method:
Comprehensive database searches of CNKI, PubMed, Embase and Web of Science were conducted from database inception to 1 September 2024, in line with PRISMA guidelines. Studies included were randomised controlled trials that compared bacterial cellulose dressings (BCDs) with conventional treatment methods. Key outcome parameters were the healing of wounds, mitigation of pain and incidence of adverse events.
Results:
The collective analysis comprised 13 studies with 514 participants, divided equally between BCDs and control groups. A notable variance was observed in the healing duration (mean difference: –6.69 days), favouring the BCD group. Equivocal results emerged for healing cure rates (odds ratio (OR): 1.27), overall adverse reactions (OR: 0.4) and pain mitigation (OR: 2.45), with none achieving statistical significance. BCD was, however, observed to hasten wound size reduction and lessen the need for dressings to be changed.
Conclusion:
The findings of this review showed that the use of BCD for wound treatment appeared to bolster the healing process and offer pain relief. Further extensive studies are required to confirm these preliminary observations and guide their clinical application.