Dressing Categories Chart

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Category	Function	Description	Examples	Indications	Usage
Alginates or other fiber gelling dressings	Absorption; Packing	Primary dressing seaweed derivative. Rope or pad form.	AlgiSite, Kaltostat, Aquacel	Full thickness wound cavity, undermined area or tunnel. Moderate to heavy exudate;	Loosely fill wound. May be used in deep wound. Secure with secondary dressing. Change daily or less often.
Composites	Absorption (minimal), or to secure primary dressings.	Composed of an impermeable barrier, an absorptive layer with a semi-adherent or non- adherent property for covering the wound and an adhesive border.	Alldress, Medipore pad, Telfa Island Dressing, Cover Site	Partial thickness and shallow full-thickness wounds. Minimal exudate unless used as secondary dressing with absorptive primary.	Remove paper backing and apply to wound. Determine frequency based on drainage and primary dressing.
Contact Layers	To protect wound bed	Non-adherent woven synthetic (often silicone) that is place in contact with the wound bed. Exudate passes through into secondary dressing.	Mepitel Non-Adherent Silicone Dressing, Tegapore	Granulating wounds; minimal to heavy exudate, donor sites, painful wounds.	Apply to wound bed with secondary absorbent dressing cover. Can leave contact layer in place up to 7 days, while changing absorbent layer.
Foam	Minimal to heavy absorption. Filler.	Semi-permeable hydrophilic foam, with or without impermeable barrier. Various thicknesses and shapes.	Allevyn, PolyMem, Biatain	Partial or full thickness wounds. Minimal to heavy exudate.	Choose dressing 2-3 cm. larger than wound. May be changes daily to  2 - 3 times a week, depending on exudate.
Gauze	Minimal to heavy absorption. Wound filler.	May be cotton, rayon or polyester, woven or non-woven. Sterile or non-sterile.	Curity Gauze Sponge, Kendall Gauze Sponge, Kerlix Super Sponge, NuGauze.	Partial or full thickness wounds. Wounds with undermining or tunneling.	Open the gauze. Do not pack tightly.  Change frequently enough to avoid drying out or saturation.
Impregnated Gauze	Filling wound. Provides antimicrobial, medications, nutrients, moisture.	Woven sponges impregnated with substances such as normal saline, Hydrogel, petrolatum, iodoform.	Adaptic, Xeroform, Iodosorb, SoloSite Gel Conformable Wound Dressing	Partial or full-thickness wounds. Wounds with cavities or tracts. Infected wounds.	Fill loosely. Frequency depends on wound characteristics and dressing characteristics.
Hydrocolloid	Absorption, retains moisture	Adhesive and absorptive with impermeable barrier. Various thicknesses and shapes.	DuoDerm, Restore, Tagasorb, Exuderm, Replicare	Partial or full-thickness wounds. Minimal to moderate exudate.	Choose size 2-3cm larger than wound. May be cut to fit irregular areas. Change every 3-5 days.
Hydrogel	Donates moisture to wound	Comes in sheets, with or without backing, or in amorphous gel in a tube or impregnated into gauze. Water or glycerine.	Intrasite Gel, Vigilon Sheets, Curasol Gel	Partial or full-thickness wounds, dry to minimal exudate, wounds with non-viable tissue.	Dressing change frequency depends on dressing backing or secondary dressing.
Transparent Film	Protects, retains moisture	Thin, transparent, adhesive film that is impermeable	Op-Site, Tegaderm	Patial thickness, minimal drainage, closed wounds.	Choose size 4-5cm larger than wound all the way around. May be left on for up to 7 days.

Category	Function	Description	Examples	Indications	How to Use
Wound Fillers	Fills shallow wounds to absorb or hydrate	Absorbent powder or beads	Multidex, Biafine WDE	Partial or shallow full thickness wounds with minimal to moderate exudate.	Fill wound then cover with secondary dressing. Change daily or PRN
Wound Pouch	To contain heavy exudate and odor.	Similar to Ostomy pouches. Some, can open to wound, and some can be attached to straight drainage.	ConvaTec Wound Manager, Hollister Wound Drainage Collector	Very heavy drainage and/or odor	Apply like Ostomy pouch. Change up to 3 times a week. (Doesn’t have to be that often if you get a good seal)
Antimicrobials	Prevent infection. Control or reduce bioburden	Can be antifungal or antibiotic ointments, pads, gels, powders, foams, hydrocolloids, or impregnated gauze.	Iodosorb Gel, Acticoat Silver, PolyMem Silver, Silver Sorb Gel, Hydrofera Blue, AMD gauze	Partial or full-thickness wounds, contaminated wounds, odorous wounds	Follow package insert instructions.
Collagen	Stimulate wound healing	Collagen protein from animal sources. Gels, pads, powders, sheets.	Fibracol Plus, Cellerate powder or gel	Partial or full-thickness wounds with minimal to moderate exudate.	Follow package insert instructions.
Enzyme Debriding Agents	Chemical removal of non-viable tissue	Enzymes applied to digest non-viable tissue. Ointment form.	Collagenase Santyl, Accuzyme, Panafil	Partial or full-thickness wounds with eschar or slough in wound bed.	Follow package instructions. Use gauze for secondary dressing. Change to appropriate dressing when non-viable tissue removed.
Skin Sealants	Transparent film barrier to protect skin from moisture or chemical injury	Liquid that comes as wipes, wands or sprays.  Contains plasticizing agent. Come contain alcohol.	Cavilon No Sting Barrier Film	Protect periwound skin from moisture. Use under tape to protect from skin stripping. Use to protect from wound drainage.	Apply when dressing is changed.
Moisture Barrier Ointments	Barrier to protect from chemical or mechanical injury to skin	Petrolatum, dimethicone, or zinc based ointments in tubes or unit dose packets	Calmoseptine, Lantiseptic Skin Protectant	To protect vulnerable skin from urine, feces, or wound drainage.	Apply PRN, at least with every clean up
Moisture Barrier Paste	Very thick protective barrier to protect skin from chemical or mechanical injury	Zinc based thick paste in tubes or unit dose packets.	Critic-Aid Skin Paste, Calazime Paste	Protect intact and damaged, denuded skin from urine, feces and wound drainage	Apply with each change. Can add to without removing completely.
Solid Skin Barrier	Solid adhesive moldable waterproof barrier to protect skin – similar to Ostomy wafer material.	Pectin, karaya, gelatine, carboxymethyl cellulose, or combination in various shapes and sizes.	Stomahesive, Durahesive, Eakin	Use to protect periwound skin from moisture, wound drainage.  Can be used as taping platform, to protect skin from adhesive.	Cut as needed. Change PRN when it loosens.
Skin Barrier Powder	Absorbs and dries weepy, denuded skin so that ointments and adhesives will stick.	Powder is pectin, karaya, gelatine, carboxymethyl cellulose or combination.	Stomahesive, Adapt	Use on weepy, denuded skin before applying ointments, pastes or adhesives, to help adherence	Use as indicated.