Tegaderm Alginate dressings are sterile, highly absorbent alginate wound dressings designed for moderately to heavily exuding wounds.

On contact with wound exudate, the alginate fibres absorb fluid and form a soft gel. This helps maintain an appropriately moist wound-healing environment, supports autolytic debridement and allows the dressing to conform closely to the wound bed.

Two versions are available:

• Tegaderm High Integrity Alginate – standard non-antimicrobial alginate dressing
• Tegaderm Alginate Ag – antimicrobial alginate and carboxymethylcellulose dressing containing ionic silver

Tegaderm High Integrity Alginate Dressing

Tegaderm High Integrity Alginate is a sterile, highly absorbent calcium alginate dressing for moderately to heavily exuding wounds.

Its high-integrity construction helps the dressing maintain its structure after absorbing wound fluid, supporting straightforward removal.

Key features:

• Highly absorbent alginate dressing
• Suitable for moderately to heavily exuding wounds
• Absorbs up to approximately 20 times its own weight
• Forms a soft gel on contact with wound exudate
• Helps maintain a moist wound-healing environment
• Supports autolytic debridement
• Helps manage slough and wound debris
• High-integrity construction
• Designed to retain structure during removal
• Can assist with minor wound bleeding
• Pad and rope formats available
• Suitable for cavity wounds when using the rope presentation
• Requires an appropriate secondary dressing
• Sterile
• Single use
• Medical device

How Tegaderm Alginate works

When Tegaderm Alginate comes into contact with wound exudate:

1. The alginate fibres absorb wound fluid.
2. The dressing swells and forms a gel.
3. Exudate is retained within the dressing.
4. The gel conforms closely to the wound bed.
5. A moist wound environment is maintained.
6. This supports natural healing processes and autolytic debridement.
7. The high-integrity structure helps facilitate removal of the dressing.

Suitable wound types

Tegaderm High Integrity Alginate may be used for moderately to heavily exuding wounds including:

• Pressure ulcers / pressure injuries
• Venous leg ulcers
• Arterial leg ulcers, following appropriate vascular assessment
• Diabetic ulcers
• Donor sites
• Post-operative wounds
• Traumatic wounds
• Superficial wounds
• Cuts and abrasions
• Other appropriate dermal wounds
• Wounds with minor bleeding

The underlying cause of chronic wounds must also be appropriately assessed and treated.

Minor bleeding

Tegaderm Alginate may assist with the management of minor superficial wound bleeding.

It should not be relied upon for:

• Heavy bleeding
• Persistent bleeding
• Arterial haemorrhage
• Significant or unexplained bleeding

Significant bleeding requires appropriate clinical assessment and haemostatic treatment.

Tegaderm Alginate Ag Silver Dressing

Tegaderm Alginate Ag is a sterile antimicrobial alginate dressing containing calcium alginate, carboxymethylcellulose and an ionic silver complex.

It combines high fluid absorption with antimicrobial activity and is designed for moderately to heavily exuding wounds that are infected, critically colonised or considered at increased risk of infection.

Key features:

• Antimicrobial alginate wound dressing
• Suitable for moderately to heavily exuding wounds
• Contains:
  • High-G calcium alginate
  • Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC)
  • Ionic silver complex
• Silver supplied as silver sodium hydrogen zirconium phosphate
• Releases silver ions in the presence of wound exudate
• Forms a soft gel as it absorbs wound fluid
• Helps maintain a moist wound-healing environment
• Helps retain wound exudate
• Provides antimicrobial activity within the dressing
• Helps manage wounds with increased bacterial burden
• High fibre integrity
• Designed for removal substantially intact
• Pad and cavity/rope formats historically available
• Requires an appropriate secondary dressing
• Sterile
• Single use
• Medical device

Antimicrobial action

When Tegaderm Alginate Ag comes into contact with wound exudate:

1. The dressing absorbs fluid.
2. The alginate and CMC fibres form a soft gel.
3. Ionic silver is released into the moist dressing environment.
4. The silver provides antimicrobial activity against a broad spectrum of microorganisms.
5. The gel retains exudate and helps maintain an appropriate moist environment.

The silver component is intended to assist with management of increased bacterial burden and does not replace systemic antibiotics or other infection treatment where these are clinically required.

Suitable wound types – Alginate Ag

Tegaderm Alginate Ag may be considered for moderately to heavily exuding wounds that are infected or at increased risk of infection, including:

• Pressure ulcers / pressure injuries
• Leg ulcers
• Diabetic ulcers
• Post-operative wounds
• Traumatic wounds
• Graft sites
• Donor sites
• Cavity wounds
• Superficial burns
• Partial-thickness burns

Infected wounds require an appropriate overall treatment plan and clinical supervision.

How to use

Tegaderm Alginate and Tegaderm Alginate Ag should be used according to the manufacturer's Instructions for Use and the patient's wound-care plan.

1. Assess and cleanse the wound according to appropriate clinical practice.
2. Dry the surrounding skin.
3. Select an appropriately sized dressing.
4. Apply the dressing directly to the wound bed.
5. Ensure appropriate contact with the wound surface.
6. Cover with a suitable secondary dressing.
7. Secure according to the wound location and level of exudate.
8. Compression therapy may be used where clinically appropriate.

The dressing may be cut or folded to fit the wound where permitted by the relevant Instructions for Use.

Cavity wounds

A rope presentation of standard Tegaderm High Integrity Alginate is available for deeper wounds.

When using an alginate rope:

• Loosely place it into the cavity
• Do not tightly pack the wound
• Allow space for expansion as the dressing absorbs exudate
• Leave sufficient dressing accessible for complete removal

At each dressing change, ensure that all dressing material has been removed.

Secondary dressing

Both Tegaderm Alginate and Tegaderm Alginate Ag normally require an appropriate secondary dressing.

The secondary dressing should be selected according to:

• Exudate level
• Wound location
• Wound depth
• Condition of the surrounding skin
• Need for fixation
• Compression requirements

Dressing changes

Dressing-change frequency depends on:

• Wound condition
• Level of exudate
• Dressing saturation
• Secondary dressing
• Infection status
• Clinical judgement

Change sooner if:

• The dressing becomes saturated
• Leakage occurs
• The secondary dressing becomes saturated
• The dressing becomes displaced
• The wound requires reassessment
• Infection worsens

Silver dressings should be regularly reassessed to determine whether continued antimicrobial treatment remains clinically appropriate.

Removal

When sufficiently hydrated by wound exudate, the alginate forms a soft gel and can normally be removed gently.

If dressing material has dried or adhered:

1. Moisten thoroughly with sterile saline.
2. Allow the dressing to soften.
3. Remove gently.

Do not forcibly remove dry dressing material from fragile healing tissue.

Dry wounds

Alginate dressings require wound moisture to gel effectively.

They are therefore primarily intended for moderately to heavily exuding wounds.

Do not routinely use on:

• Dry wounds
• Minimally exuding wounds
• Wounds covered with hard, dry eschar

unless specifically directed by an appropriately trained healthcare professional.

Infection

Standard Tegaderm High Integrity Alginate is not antimicrobial.

Where infection or increased bacterial burden requires antimicrobial treatment, an appropriately selected antimicrobial dressing may be indicated.

Tegaderm Alginate Ag contains silver, but does not replace appropriate treatment of:

• Cellulitis
• Spreading infection
• Systemic infection
• Osteomyelitis
• Sepsis

Seek clinical assessment if there is:

• Increasing redness
• Swelling
• Increasing pain
• Heat
• Purulent discharge
• Offensive odour
• Fever
• Rapid wound deterioration

Important information

Do not:

• Use on dry wounds without appropriate clinical assessment
• Tightly pack cavities
• Use as the sole treatment for significant bleeding
• Reuse
• Re-sterilise
• Use if the sterile packaging is damaged
• Use after the expiry date

Standard product type: High-Integrity Calcium Alginate Dressing

Ag product type: Antimicrobial Alginate/CMC Dressing with Ionic Silver

Exudate level: Moderate to high

Forms gel: Yes

Supports autolytic debridement: Yes

Suitable for minor bleeding: Yes

Secondary dressing required: Yes

Sterile: Yes

Single use: Yes

Tegaderm High Integrity Alginate – UK presentations

5cm × 5cm

• Pack size: 10 dressings
• Manufacturer code: 90110
• Solventum product ID: 7100245996

10cm × 10cm

• Pack size: 10 dressings
• Manufacturer code: 90112
• Solventum product ID: 7100245457

10cm × 20cm

• Pack size: 5 dressings
• Manufacturer code: 90114
• Manufacturer-listed presentation

Rope – 2cm × 30.4cm

• Pack size: 5 dressings
• Manufacturer code: 90120
• Current NHS/dm+d cavity presentation

Tegaderm Alginate Ag – UK presentations historically supplied

5cm × 5cm

• Pack size: 10 dressings
• Manufacturer code: 90310

10cm × 10cm

• Pack size: 10 dressings
• Manufacturer code: 90312

Rope – 3cm × 30cm

• Manufacturer code: 90320

Brand: Tegaderm™

Current brand owner: Solventum

Tegaderm Alginate dressings should be selected according to wound type, depth, exudate level and infection status. Chronic, diabetic, vascular, infected or otherwise complex wounds should be assessed and monitored by an appropriately trained healthcare professional.

Product Information Leaflet : Tegaderm Alginate

Product Information Leaflet : Tegaderm Alginate Ag