Non pharmacological treatment of severe cutaneous infections: hyperbaric oxygen therapy, dressings and local treatments.

What Researchers Did

This clinical guideline reviewed non-pharmacological treatments for severe cutaneous infections, including hyperbaric oxygen therapy and various dressings.

What They Found

Researchers found that hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) showed clear usefulness in experimental studies, though its clinical efficacy was poorly assessed, leading a French consensus conference to recommend it as an adjuvant treatment. Conventional occlusive dressings, such as humid or vaseline gauze, are largely used, while calcium alginate, silver-coated dressings, and vacuum-assisted closure therapy were also considered useful options.

Canadian Relevance

This study has no direct Canadian connection as it is based on a French consensus conference.

Study Limitations

A primary limitation noted was the poor assessment of hyperbaric oxygen therapy's efficacy in clinical practice despite promising experimental results.