Wound care
antimicrobials, ensuring clinicians can select the most appropriate dressing for each stage of healing. Healthcare procurement strategies must
move beyond default silver use and enable access to physical-mode technologies as part of standard formularies. This will make it far easier for teams to reserve silver for situations where its benefits clearly outweigh its risks, and to use bacteria-binding dressings in situations where they can control bioburden effectively without adding to antimicrobial exposure. AMR is a serious threat, and the routine
materials placed on wounds carry real consequences for patients today and for antimicrobial effectiveness tomorrow. Moving towards bacteria-binding, non-biocidal dressings represents a practical, evidence- based step in modernising wound care. It empowers clinicians to deliver safer healing, protects precious antimicrobial resources and supports a health system facing growing clinical and operational pressures. Sustainable wound care extends beyond
reducing silver use; it requires a fundamental shift in wound management. It requires the clinician to assess the wound and use active antimicrobial dressings where they deliver the greatest clinical benefit, not using them as routine. Consider leveraging physical-mode technologies to safely manage non-infected wounds to prevent infection occurring, thereby embedding antimicrobial stewardship principles into everyday practice. By doing so, the sector can safeguard patient outcomes, while preserving the long-term effectiveness of antimicrobials.
References 1. WHO (2023) Antimicrobial Resistance. https://
www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/ detail/antimicrobial-resistance (Accessed 09/01/2026)
2. Murray, Christopher J L et al. (2022) Global burden of bacterial antimicrobial resistance in 2019: a systematic analysis The Lancet, Volume 399, Issue 10325, 629 – 6552
3. Naghavi, Mohsen et al. (2024) Global burden of bacterial antimicrobial resistance 1990–2021: a systematic analysis with forecasts to 2050 The Lancet, Volume 404, Issue 10459, 1199 – 1226
4. Cornely O.A et al, (2025) Global guideline for the diagnosis and management of candidiasis: an initiative of the ECMM in cooperation with ISHAM and ASM. Lancet Infect Dis. May;25(5):e280-e293.
5. Mardourian et al. (2023) Prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in urine, blood, and wound pathogens among rural patients in Karnataka, India. Antimicrobial Stewardship &
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Healthcare Epidemiology, 2023;3:e91.
6. Williamson, D. A., Carter, G. P., & Howden, B. P. (2017). Current and emerging topical antibacterials and antiseptics: Agents, action, and resistance patterns. Clinical Microbiology Reviews, 30(3), 523–563
7. Rippon, M. & Rogers, A. (2025). Development of silver resistance: A focus on wound care. Wounds International, 16(2), 20–25
8. InspireMed, (2025) Health Data Analytics: Wound, Stoma, Continence [Tableau visualization] Oct 2025 (Accessed 09/01/2026)
9. Lansdown, A. B. G. (2002). Silver I: Its antibacterial properties and mechanism of action. Journal of Wound Care, 11(4), 125–130
CSJ
10. Fletcher J, Ashfield T, Donnelly J et al (2025) Antimicrobial stewardship strategies for wound management: Recommendations for the UK. London: Wounds UK
11. Dinić M, Verpile R, Burgess JL et al (2024) Multidrug resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis from chronic wounds impair healing in human wound model. Wound Repair Regen 32: 799-810
12. Edwards-Jone V, Idensohn P, Westgate S, et al (2025) Dialkylcarbamoyl Chloride coated wound dressings: An evidence review and position document. International Position Document. Wounds International
13. Ljungh A, Yanagisawa N, Wadström T (2006) Using the principle of hydrophobic interaction to bind and remove wound bacteria. J Wound Care 15(4): 175-80
14. Husmark J, Morgner B, Susilo YB, Wiegand C (2022) Antimicrobial effects of bacterial binding to a dialkylcarbamoyl chloride-coated wound dressing: an in vitro study. J Wound Care 31(7): 560-70
15. Essity (2025) Cutimed Sorbact designed with Sorbact Technology that prevents and treats wound infection.
Cutimed.co.uk https://www.
cutimed.co.uk/wound-management/prevent- and-treat-infection-with-sorbact-technology (Accessed 11/01/2026)
16. NHS Supply Chain (2025) Lowering Surgical Site Infections and Readmissions in Maternity Care.
www.supplychain.nhs.uk (Accessed 13/01/2025)
https://www.supplychain.nhs.uk/news-article/ sorbact-film-dressing-improves-patient- experience/
17. Rippon et al. (2025) Use of DACC-coated wound dressings in the reduction of surgical site infection: a systematic review and meta- analysis. Global Wound Care Journal. Volume: 1 Issue: 1
About the author
Ashley Clydesdale is the Brand Manager for Essity’s Wound Care portfolio and a registered nurse with over 30 years of healthcare experience. Her background spans vascular and critical care nursing, specialist continence education, and contract management within the NHS. In her current role, Ashley combines her clinical expertise with marketing to lead educational initiatives and support evidence generation that enhances wound care practice.
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