DeRoyal Algidex Ag I.V. Patch — Silver Alginate Catheter Dressing, No Activation Needed, 4 Sizes

Immediate antimicrobial protection at every catheter site — no water, no activation, no waiting. The DeRoyal Algidex Ag I.V. Patch is a sterile circular polyurethane foam patch coated with a patented ionic silver alginate and maltodextrin matrix, engineered specifically for catheter insertion sites where bacterial colonization is the primary infection risk. Unlike silver dressings that require moisture activation or sterile water before use, Algidex Ag activates immediately on contact with the skin — the ionic silver is pre-distributed evenly throughout the matrix in its active ionic state, delivering broad-spectrum antimicrobial protection from the moment of application. The maltodextrin component absorbs moisture around the catheter insertion site, keeping the site dry while the silver alginate matrix maintains sustained antimicrobial barrier activity for up to 7 days. Non-adhesive, non-irritating, and proven effective against MRSA, E. coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus.

✔ Immediate Antimicrobial Action — No Activation or Sterile Water Required    ✔ Ionic Silver + Maltodextrin Matrix — Absorbs Moisture, Releases Silver Continuously    ✔ Up to 7-Day Wear — One Patch Per Dressing Change Cycle    ✔ Non-Adhesive & Non-Irritating — Gentle on Fragile Catheter Site Skin    ✔ Not Absorbed Systemically — Reduces Risks Associated With Chlorhexidine or Betadine

Product Details

Indicated For — Clinical Applications

• Peripheral I.V. catheter sites
• Central venous lines — all types
• Arterial catheters
• Dialysis catheters — hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis
• Epidural catheters
• Gastrostomy feeding tube sites
• Non-vascular percutaneous devices
• External fixator pin sites
• Vascular access and intramuscular sites
• First and second degree burns
• Donor sites
• Surgical incisions requiring antimicrobial site protection
• Abrasions and lacerations requiring exudate management with antimicrobial barrier

Contraindications: Do not use on third degree burns, ulcers resulting from infections, or lesions in patients with active vasculitis. Do not use in patients with known sensitivity to silver, silver compounds, or alginates. Do not surgically implant.

How Algidex Ag Works — What Makes It Different

Catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs) are among the most costly and preventable healthcare-acquired infections — and the insertion site is the primary entry point for bacteria that migrate along the catheter into the bloodstream. Standard catheter dressings provide a physical barrier but no active antimicrobial protection at the skin-catheter interface. Chlorhexidine-based alternatives provide antimicrobial action but introduce systemic absorption risk, skin sensitivity concerns, and allergic reaction potential. Algidex Ag addresses this gap with a formulation that combines ionic silver alginate and maltodextrin in a way no other catheter dressing does. The ionic silver is pre-charged and evenly distributed throughout the matrix — not requiring moisture to convert from a compound form, and not relying on a burst-release mechanism. It is active from first contact and remains effective for up to 7 days. The maltodextrin component actively absorbs moisture around the insertion site, keeping the site drier than a standard film dressing alone and reducing the moist environment that promotes bacterial proliferation. The result is immediate, sustained, site-specific antimicrobial protection that is not absorbed systemically and does not require any preparation steps before application.

• Ionic silver pre-distributed evenly in active state — immediate antimicrobial protection from first contact, no activation step
• Sustained antimicrobial barrier effective for up to 7 days — covers the full standard catheter dressing change interval
• Broad spectrum — proven effective against MRSA, E. coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus
• Maltodextrin matrix absorbs moisture at the insertion site — reduces the moist environment that promotes bacterial growth
• Not absorbed systemically — eliminates the systemic exposure risk associated with chlorhexidine and betadine alternatives
• No skin sensitization risk — non-irritating formulation safe for long-term catheter management
• MRI compatible — no heat generated, no image distortion
• Non-adhesive foam backing — gentle on fragile catheter site skin, no adhesive trauma on removal
• One-step application — place silver matrix side down at catheter site, secure with retention dressing
• Sterile single-use packaging — maintains sterility through the full application process

Why Algidex Ag vs. Chlorhexidine-Based Dressings

Chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) dressings are commonly used for catheter site protection — but CHG is absorbed through the skin and has been associated with systemic effects, contact dermatitis, skin irritation, and in rare cases life-threatening anaphylactic reactions. For patients requiring long-term catheter management, extended CHG exposure increases these risks. Algidex Ag provides comparable broad-spectrum antimicrobial protection at the catheter site through ionic silver and maltodextrin — a mechanism that acts locally at the dressing surface and is not absorbed systemically, making it a clinically appropriate alternative for patients with CHG sensitivity or in facilities seeking to reduce systemic antiseptic exposure.

Choosing the Right Size

• 46-IV20 — ¾" Disc with 2mm Opening — 5/box — Smallest size — designed for narrow-gauge peripheral IV catheters and small-bore peripheral access sites where a compact footprint is needed
• 46-IV22 — 1" Disc (no opening) — 5/box — Standard solid disc — for use at catheter-adjacent wound sites, surgical incisions, abrasions, and applications where no catheter hub opening is needed
• 46-IV25 — 1" Disc with 7mm Opening — 5/box — Standard catheter size — the most widely used Algidex Ag size, designed to fit around the majority of standard peripheral IV, central venous, arterial, and dialysis catheter hubs
• 46-IV375 — 1½" Disc with 7mm Opening — 5/box — Larger catheter size — ideal for larger hub catheters, dialysis access sites, external fixator pins, gastrostomy tube sites, and any catheter application requiring broader coverage around the insertion site

Application: Apply Algidex Ag I.V. Patch with the silver matrix side touching the catheter and skin. Secure in place with a retention dressing such as gauze, transparent film, or tape. Patch may be worn up to 7 days. To remove, lift the patch from the catheter and discard per institutional protocol.

Not sure which size fits your catheter? Call 1-866-218-0902 — Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm EST

Why Buy From Medical Department Store?

• 30+ years serving home medical, wound care, and clinical supply customers
• 110% Low Price Guarantee — we beat any competitor's price
• Medical supply specialists on the phone — not a call center
• Ships to all 50 states — 5 Southwest Florida locations for local pickup
• Full-service medical supply store — Home Medical Equipment, Mobility, Respiratory & Beds

Questions about Algidex Ag or any of our catheter site dressings? Call 1-866-218-0902 — our team is ready to help.