Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is a chronic
wound frequently delayed from severe
infection.
Wound dressing provides an essential barrier between the
ulcer and the external environment. This review aimed to analyse the effectiveness of antibacterial
collagen-based dressing for DFU treatment in a clinical setting. An electronic search in four databases, namely, Scopus, PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE(R), and ISI Web of Science, was performed to obtain relevant articles published within the last ten years. The published studies were included if they reported evidence of (1)
collagen-based antibacterial dressing or (2) wound healing for diabetic
ulcers, and (3) were written in English. Both randomised and non-randomised clinical trials were included. The search for relevant clinical studies (n) identified eight related references discussing the effectiveness of
collagen-based antibacterial
wound dressings for DFU comprising
collagen impregnated with
polyhexamethylene biguanide (n = 2),
gentamicin (n = 3), combined-
cellulose and
silver (n = 1),
gentian violet/
methylene blue mixed (n = 1), and
silver (n = 1). The clinical data were limited by small sample sizes and multiple aetiologies of chronic
wounds. The evidence was not robust enough for a conclusive statement, although most of the studies reported positive outcomes for the use of
collagen dressings loaded with antibacterial properties for DFU wound healing. This study emphasises the importance of having standardised clinical trials, larger sample sizes, and accurate reporting for reliable statistical evidence confirming DFU treatment efficiency.