Is Xeroform the Same as Petrolatum Dressing? Composition Guide
Is Xeroform the same as petrolatum dressing?
The Quick Answer
**Xeroform is a specific brand of petrolatum dressing** containing 3% bismuth tribromophenate added to petrolatum-impregnated gauze. Generic petrolatum dressings lack the antimicrobial bismuth component but provide identical moisture maintenance and non-adherence properties. Both maintain moist wound healing environments—Xeroform adds mild antimicrobial action without cytotoxicity to healing tissue.
Why We Ask This
Patients and clinicians conflate brand-name Xeroform with generic petrolatum gauze, either overpaying for unnecessary antimicrobial properties in clean wounds or underestimating infection risks in contaminated wounds where bismuth's mild antimicrobial action provides valuable prophylaxis.
The Practical Science
Xeroform's patent specifies 3% bismuth tribromophenate suspended in petrolatum-saturated gauze (30–40% petrolatum by weight). Bismuth provides broad-spectrum antimicrobial action through electrostatic disruption of bacterial adhesion without the fibroblast cytotoxicity associated with iodine or silver at wound-healing concentrations.
In Clinical Practice
A clean surgical incision may use generic petrolatum gauze for cost efficiency, while a contaminated traumatic wound benefits from Xeroform's bismuth component—demonstrating how wound bioburden assessment guides appropriate product selection between generic and branded options.
References & Context
Medical Grade Non-Adherent Gauze For Wounds & Burns Burn Dressing ..."This Xeroform Petrolatum Dressing is the same type used in hospitals - a soft, comfortable, non-adhesive mesh gauze that's rich in petrolatum and contains 3% bismuth tribromophenate. What does that mean for you? It creates a moist, breathable environment that promotes healing while reducing wound odor."