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Dressing Center

Society guidelines recommend dressing categories, not brands. Within the same brand family, different models (Ag / Border / Lite / Ribbon…) may differ substantially in material and indications — always check the current IFU before use.

1. Clinical need × dressing category reference table

Clinical need	Guideline-supported dressing categories
Protecting fragile tissue	Non-adherent dressings, silicone contact layers
Low exudate	Transparent film, thin foam, selected hydrocolloids
Dry wounds needing rehydration	Hydrogel
Moderate exudate	Foam, alginate, gelling fiber
Heavy exudate	Hydrofiber, alginate, high-capacity foam, superabsorbent dressings
Cavities / dead space	Alginate rope, gelling fiber ribbon (pack loosely, never tightly)
Minor bleeding	Calcium alginate, hemostatic dressings
Local bioburden	Time-limited antimicrobial dressings (Ag / iodine / PHMB)
Odor	Activated charcoal dressings, selected antimicrobial dressings
Large prepared wound beds	Selected NPWT (negative pressure wound therapy)
Fragile malignant / inflammatory wounds	Low-trauma contact layer + absorbent secondary dressing

Sources: EPUAP/NPIAP/PPPIA 2019; IWGDF interventions 2023; EWMA/WOCN documents (compiled)

2. Pressure injury stage × dressing recommendations (EPUAP/NPIAP/PPPIA 2019, specific statements)

Pressure injury scenario	Recommended dressing categories
Selected non-infected Stage 2	Hydrocolloid, hydrogel, polymer dressings
Stage 3–4, low exudate	Hydrogel
Stage 3–4, moderate exudate	Calcium alginate
Stage 2 and above, moderate-to-heavy exudate	Foam
Very heavy exudate	Superabsorbent dressings
Large Stage 3–4 (wound bed prepared)	Selected NPWT
Prevention at high-risk sites	Prophylactic multilayer silicone foam

3. Dressing category encyclopedia

Film

Semi-permeable, waterproof, transparent; low-exudate/superficial wounds, secondary fixation. Avoid: moderate-to-heavy exudate, forceful removal from fragile skin.

Hydrogel

Donates moisture, promotes autolytic debridement; dry/necrotic wounds. Avoid: heavy exudate (maceration risk).

Hydrocolloid

Occlusive autolytic environment; low-to-moderate-exudate superficial wounds. Avoid: infected wounds, fragile skin (ISTAP caution).

Foam

Absorption and cushioning for moderate-to-heavy exudate; silicone-bordered types suit fragile skin. Multilayer silicone foam can be used for pressure injury prevention.

Alginate

Highly absorbent, gel-forming; moderate-to-heavy exudate, cavities (rope form), minor bleeding (calcium alginate is hemostatic). Not suitable for dry wounds.

Gelling fiber (Hydrofiber)

Locks fluid vertically as it gels, reducing maceration; moderate-to-heavy exudate and cavities (ribbon form).

Superabsorbent

Very heavy exudate (e.g., venous ulcers, peri-fistula skin); as a primary or secondary dressing.

Silicone contact layer

Low-trauma; protects new tissue and fragile skin (skin tears, EB, palliative wounds); requires an absorbent layer on top.

Antimicrobial (Ag / iodine / PHMB)

Local bioburden / recurrently infected wounds; time-limited use with regular reassessment (2-week rule), not routine prophylaxis.

Activated charcoal

Odor control (malignant/infected wounds); often combined with an absorbent layer.

Collagen/Matrix

Adjunct for recalcitrant chronic wounds (e.g., PROMOGRAN-type products); use after standard care has been optimized.

NPWT (negative pressure wound therapy)

Large, deep, prepared wound beds. Contraindications: undebrided necrosis, uncontrolled osteomyelitis, direct contact with exposed vessels/organs, malignant wounds (palliative exceptions case by case).

4. Brand × category reference (for identification only — not a ranking)

A brand name does not mean superiority over other products of the same category. The list shows common product "families"; models within the same family differ substantially (Ag/Border/Lite/Extra/Ribbon/Rope/Surgical/Post-Op) — always verify the current IFU, local licensing, and reimbursement coverage.

Category	Common brand examples (manufacturer)
Silicone contact layer	Mepitel (Mölnlycke), ADAPTIC Touch (Solventum), UrgoTul (Urgo)
Foam	Mepilex / Mepilex Border (Mölnlycke), ALLEVYN (S+N), Biatain (Coloplast), HydroTac (HARTMANN), Cutimed Siltec (Essity), Askina Foam (B.Braun)
Hydrocolloid	DuoDERM (Convatec), Comfeel (Coloplast), Hydrocoll (HARTMANN)
Hydrogel	INTRASITE (S+N), Purilon (Coloplast), Askina Gel (B.Braun)
Hydrofiber / gelling fiber	AQUACEL / AQUACEL Ag (Convatec), Exufiber (Mölnlycke), DURAFIBER (S+N)
Alginate	KALTOSTAT (Convatec), Melgisorb (Mölnlycke), Sorbalgon (HARTMANN), Biatain Alginate (Coloplast), Suprasorb A (L&R)
Superabsorbent	Zetuvit Plus (HARTMANN), Vliwasorb (L&R), ConvaMax (Convatec), Cutimed Sorbion (Essity)
Silver antimicrobial	ACTICOAT (S+N), AQUACEL Ag (Convatec), Askina Calgitrol Ag (B.Braun), UrgoClean Ag (Urgo)
Iodine	IODOSORB / IODOFLEX (S+N)
Activated charcoal (odor control)	CarboFlex (Convatec), Vliwaktiv (L&R)
Hydrophobic antimicrobial (DACC)	Cutimed Sorbact (Essity)
Collagen/Matrix	PROMOGRAN / PROMOGRAN PRISMA (Solventum), UrgoStart (Urgo)
Film	Tegaderm (Solventum), Hydrofilm (HARTMANN), OPSITE (S+N)
NPWT systems	V.A.C. / PREVENA / SNAP (Solventum), RENASYS / PICO (S+N), Avelle (Convatec)

Brand information sources: manufacturers' public product catalogs (Mölnlycke, Convatec, Smith+Nephew, Solventum, Coloplast, HARTMANN, Lohmann & Rauscher, Essity, B.Braun, Urgo). Evidence hierarchy: society guidelines → systematic reviews/comparative trials → local formulary and regulations → manufacturer IFU.

5. Glossary (product suffixes)

Suffix	Meaning
Ag	Silver-containing antimicrobial version
Border	Self-adhesive border (no secondary fixation needed)
Lite / Extra	Thinner (low exudate) / enhanced absorbency (high exudate)
Ribbon / Rope	Ribbon/rope form for cavity packing
Surgical / Post-Op	Formats designed for surgical incisions

Last updated: 2026-08-30