HemCon Bandages offer an antibacterial barrier that prevents and kills dangerous bacteria.

HemCon Bandages are an antibacterial barrier as demonstrated by AATCC Test Method 100-2004, Evaluation of Antibacterial Finishes (Technical Manual of the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists) in laboratory testing with Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae.

How HemCon Dressings Work on Bacteria:
• Chitosan interacts with the bacteria’s phospholipid (outer) membrane.
• Increased permeability leads to disruption of cell membrane, causing cytoplasm to leak out.
• The cell loses its integrity and the protective layer disintegrates.
• Cell collapses and dies.

Additional studies for the ChitoFlex-Surgical Dressing

Additional studies were conducted with the ChitoFlex-Surgical Dressing and the results demonstrated that chitosan increased permeability of the inner and outer membranes and ultimately disrupted the bacterial cell membranes, releasing their contents. Preclinical studies with HemCon dressings have shown bacteriostatic and bacteriocidal properties against a wide range of gram positive and gram negative organisms. The clinical significance of these findings is unknown.

The antibacterial properties of chitosan were investigated using in vitro methodology by Liu, et al.¹ in which the antibacterial activities of chitosan were measured against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus.

Percent reduction* of organism after exposure to dressing

Organism	Gram Stain	ChitoFlex Surgical Dressing
Escherichia coli ATCC 8739	-	>99.92
Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 4352	-	>99.29
Streptococcus pyogenes ATCC 19615	+	>99.91
Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) ATCC 33591	+	>99.94
Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 12228	+	>99.79
Salmonella choleraesuis ATCC 10708	-	>99.91
Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 9027	-	>99.94
Enterococcus faecalis (VRE) ATCC 51575	+	>99.90
Serratia marcescens ATCC 13880	-	>99.86
Stenotrophomonas maltophilia ATCC 12714	-	>99.94
Streptococcus mutans ATCC 25175	+	>99.92
Clostridium difficile ATCC 9689	+	>99.92
Streptococcus pneumoniae ATCC 10015	+	>99.94
Citrobacter koseri ATCC 25408	-	>99.96
Shigella species ATCC 11126	-	>99.89
Enterobacter aerogenes ATCC 13048	-	>99.93
Proteus mirabilis ATCC 4630	-	>99.87
Proteus vulgaris ATCC 12454	-	>99.83
Citrobacter freundii ATCC 8090	-	>99.94
Enterobacter cloacae ATCC 13047	-	>99.94
Acinetobacter baumannii ATCC 15308	-	>99.95
Moraxella catarrhalis ATCC 8193	-	>99.95
Micrococcus luteus ATCC 147	+	**
Vibrio cholerae ATCC 11558	-	>99.92

* Percent reduction refers to the percentage reduction in organisms at 24 hours vs. 0 hours exposure to the dressing.

¹ Liu H. et al., Chitosan kills bacteria through cell membrane damage, International Journal of Food Microbiology 95 (2004) 147-155.