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Respond to the rise of antimicrobial resistance with Cutimed® Sorbact®

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global health threat and AMR infections are a major driver of mortality and reduced quality of life.1 In 2021, an estimated 4.71 million deaths were associated with AMR. Without effective tools to avert AMR mortality, this figure could rise to 8.22 million by 2050.2 Resistant infections also increase the cost per hospital admission and could have a global economic impact, with one model estimating economic losses of US$1.7 trillion annually if drug resistance is not tackled.3

AMR is a growing concern in wound care due to reported inappropriate use of antimicrobials including antibiotics.4 Sorbact® Technology dressings can form a valuable part of your antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) strategy by reducing the microbial burden without using antimicrobial agents.10

A report cover titled “International guideline on antimicrobial stewardship and the role of microbial-binding dressings in wound care 2026” with a microbial illustration and journal logos at the bottom.

New international guideline on AMS in wound care.4

The new international guideline on AMS in wound care4 places* microbial-binding dressings, such as Sorbact Technology dressings, at the forefront of wound care.

This guideline lays out four evidence-based, practical pathways that champion infection prevention, early intervention and the first-line use of microbial-binding dressings to help drive more consistent, responsible wound care.4

*Sorbact Technology dressings utilise a DACC™-coated surface.

Discover the new guideline

Intervene early with Cutimed Sorbact

Infection can be prevented by intervening prophylactically to reduce microbial burden in the early stages of the wound infection continuum.4 The new International Guideline on AMS in wound care4 recommends* microbial-binding dressings as first-line therapy for early intervention and treatment in hard-to-heal wounds (HtHWs) such as diabetes related foot ulcers (DRFUs) and venous leg ulcers (VLUs)4.

Cutimed Sorbact is designed with Sorbact Technology that helps prevent and treat wound infection5,6 across patients of all ages^.6,7,8

* following local policy and where clinically appropriate

^ Note precautions for Cutimed® Sorbact® Gel/Sorbact® Gel Compress / Cutimed® Sorbact® Hydro in IFU.

Learn more about venous leg ulcer Learn more about diabetic foot ulcer

Follow the clinical pathways for AMS

Clinical pathways for HtHWs, DRFUs and VLUs, provided in the International Guideline on AMS in wound care4, support AMS at key clinical decision points in wound care: assessing symptoms and presence of infection; considering the need for dressings; and evaluating progress towards wound healing.4 Implementing such clinical pathways comes with a clear rationale – helping prevent the development of infection, reducing AMR, and helping improve patient outcomes.

Using Sorbact Technology as an approach for early intervention and treatment in hard-to-heal wounds supports AMS.9

Cutimed Sorbact, designed with Sorbact Technology, is a microbial-binding dressing based on physical interactions between the dressing and wound microbes. Bacteria irreversibly bind to the dressing surface to reduce bioburden and support wound healing.10

As antimicrobial agents are not released, the development of bacterial or fungal resistance is not expected.10 Sorbact Technology dressings support AMS strategies9 and may reduce the need for antibiotics.11

Infection can be prevented by intervening prophylactically to reduce microbial burden in the early stages of the wound infection continuum.4 The new International Guideline on AMS in wound care4 recommends* microbial-binding dressings as first-line therapy for early intervention and treatment in hard-to-heal wounds (HtHWs) such as diabetes related foot ulcers (DRFUs) and venous leg ulcers (VLUs)4.

Cutimed Sorbact is designed with Sorbact Technology that helps prevent and treat wound infection5,6 across patients of all ages^.6,7,8

* following local policy and where clinically appropriate

^ Note precautions for Cutimed® Sorbact® Gel/Sorbact® Gel Compress / Cutimed® Sorbact® Hydro in IFU.

Read more about microbial-binding dressings Read more about Sorbact Technology

Cutimed Sorbact is effective against multiple WHO bacterial priority pathogens

In vitro tests showed that Cutimed Sorbact DACC™-coated bacteria-binding wound dressing was able to inhibit the growth of all the World Health Organization (WHO) priority pathogens tested12,13:

  • Acinetobacter baumannii
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa
  • Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL)
  • Enterococcus faecium (VRE) and Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
Read more

New international guideline on AMS in wound care

International guideline on antimicrobial stewardship and the role of microbial-binding dressings in wound care 2026: infection prevention, control, early intervention and treatment.

Download here

New educational tools to support AMS

New educational resources aim to support healthcare professionals in understanding the need for AMS strategies in wound care and how to implement the clinical pathways in the International Guideline on AMS in wound care4. The pathways are intended as easy-to-apply, evidence-based clinical decision tools to support and guide decision-making in the infection control and treatment of hard-to-heal wounds.

These clinical pathways can help reduce the use of antimicrobials such as antibiotics by promoting, facilitating and teaching the use of alternatives in line with AMS principles in wound care.

Access the e-Learning

Cutimed Sorbact product range

Offers safe and effective wound infection management without expectation of antimicrobial resistance.

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References

  1. Murray CJL et al. Global burden of antimicrobial resistance in 2019: a systematic analysis. The Lancet. 2022;399(10325):629-55.
  2. Naghavi M et al. Global burden of bacterial antimicrobial resistance 1990–2021: a systematic analysis with forecasts to 2050. The Lancet. 2024;404:1199-1226.
  3. McDonnell A et al. Forecasting the Fallout from AMR: Economic Impacts of Antimicrobial Resistance in Humans – A report from the EcoAMR series. World Organisation for Animal Health and World Bank. 2024.
  4. Idensohn, P, Woodmansey E, Bruwer F et al. International guideline on antimicrobial stewardship and the role of microbial-binding dressings in wound care 2026: infection prevention, control, early intervention and treatment. J Wound Care. 2026;35(5A):S1–S40.
  5. Stanirowski PJ et al. Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating Dialkylcarbamoyl Chloride Impregnated Dressings for the Prevention of Surgical Site Infections in Adult Women Undergoing Cesarean Section. Surg Infect (Larchmt). 2016;17(4):427-435.
  6. Kammerlander G et al. An investigation of Cutimed® Sorbact® as an antimicrobial alternative in wound management. Wounds UK. 2008;4:10-18
  7. Ciprandi et al. Meeting the Challenges in Pediatric Wound Care: Our 15-Year Experience with Dialkylcarbamoyl Chloride-Coated Dressing Technology in Acute and Chronic Wounds. Chronic Wound Care Management and Research. 2022;9:23-33.
  8. Meberg A & Schoyen R. Hydrophobic material in routine umbilical cord care and prevention of infections in newborn infants. Scand J Infect Dis. 1990;22:729-733.
  9. Rippon MG et al. Antimicrobial stewardship strategies in wound care: evidence to support the use of dialkylcarbamoyl chloride (DACC)-coated wound dressings. J Wound Care. 2021;30:284–296.
  10. Edwards-Jones V et al. Dialkylcarbamoyl Chloride-coated Wound Dressings: An Evidence Review and Position Document. Wounds International. 2025.
  11. Stanirowski PJ et al. Dialkylcarbamoyl chloride-impregnated dressing for the prevention of surgical site infection in women undergoing cesarean section: a pilot study. Arch Med Sci. 2016;12(5):1036-1042.
  12. World Health Organization. WHO bacterial priority pathogens list, 2024: Bacterial pathogens of public health importance to guide research, development and strategies to prevent and control antimicrobial resistance. Accessed on 28.01.2026.
  13. Husmark J et al. Antimicrobial effects of bacterial binding to a dialkylcarbamoyl chloride-coated wound dressing: an in vitro study. J Wound Care. 2022;31:560-570.
  14. Ciliberti M et al. The effect of a bacteria- and fungi-binding mesh dressing on the bacterial load of pressure ulcers treated with negative pressure wound therapy: A pilot study. Wounds. 2016;28(11):408-420. Read more
  15. Mosti G et al. Comparative study of two antimicrobial dressings in infected leg ulcers: a pilot study. J Wound Care. 2015;24(3):121-127.