From the FDA Drug Label
The cream should be applied once to twice daily to a thickness of approximately one sixteenth of an inch. The recommended application frequency for Silvadene (silver sulfadiazine) 1% cream in burn treatment is once to twice daily. Reapplication is necessary after hydrotherapy or whenever the cream has been removed by patient activity 1.
- Apply to a thickness of approximately one sixteenth of an inch.
- Continue treatment until satisfactory healing has occurred or until the burn site is ready for grafting.
From the Research
Silvadene (silver sulfadiazine) 1% cream should be applied once daily to burn wounds, as this frequency has been shown to be effective in preventing infection and promoting healing 2. The application of Silvadene 1% cream is a crucial aspect of burn wound care, as it provides broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against many gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, as well as some fungi.
- The cream should be applied to a thickness of approximately 1/16 inch (1.5 mm) over the affected area after the wound has been cleaned and debrided of dead tissue.
- The cream should remain on the wound at all times, and reapplication is necessary after wound cleansing or if the cream has been removed by patient activity.
- When treating extensive burns, healthcare providers should monitor for potential systemic absorption of the medication, as noted in various studies 3, 4.
- The antimicrobial properties of silver sulfadiazine work by releasing silver ions that disrupt bacterial cell membranes and inhibit DNA replication, providing broad-spectrum activity against many gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria as well as some fungi 5.
- Patients or caregivers should wear gloves when applying the cream to prevent contamination of the wound and medication.
- A new formulation of silver sulfadiazine in a water-soluble gel has been shown to have comparable antibacterial activity to the commercially available silver sulfadiazine cream when applied once daily 2.