Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites (microbes) no longer respond to medicines, making common infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death¹.
Antimicrobial resistance:
The reality of antimicrobial resistance
- At least 30% of antibiotics prescribed in outpatient settings are unnecessary².
- 1,27 million deaths per year are directly caused by AMR globally³.
- Bacterial infections are associated to 7,7 million deaths per year worldwide³.
Why AMR poses a critical challenge in wound management
Wound care represents a significant opportunity in combating AMR due to several factors. The use of conventional antibiotics and antimicrobial agents, such as silver in wound dressings can contribute to bacterial resistance⁴. Due to antimicrobial resistance, antibiotics or antimicrobials may lose their effectiveness, and wound infections become increasingly difficult to treat.
Signs of wound infection include increased pain, swelling, and discharge, while wound infection symptoms can range from localised inflammation to systemic complications. If the wound healing process is delayed due to wound infection this can also have a negative impact on quality of life and increase treatment cost⁵. Patients with hard-to-heal wounds, leg ulcers, skin ulcers or infected surgical wounds return with complications, stretching healthcare resources and prolonging suffering.
Effective wound management can help break the cycle
DACC™-coated dressings with Sorbact Technology, support infection management while minimizing risk for antimicrobial resistance, supporting AMS management of hard-to-heal and surgical wounds⁴.
This means healthcare professionals can effectively manage wound infections⁶ while actively supporting global efforts to preserve antibiotic effectiveness.
When healthcare professionals choose DACC™-coated dressings with Sorbact Technology, they're not just treating individual wounds, they're participating in a global movement supporting Antimicrobial Stewardship.
Drive change through Antimicrobial Stewardship
The term Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) refers to coordinating efforts to promote the optimal use of antimicrobial agents, including the choice of medicine, and durations of treatment.
As a Healthcare Professional, you have the opportunity to make a real difference and advocate for responsible antibiotics use. Your role in Antimicrobial Stewardship is vital. Here's what you can do:
Consider wound management that reduces antibiotic use
Choose Cutimed Sorbact dressings with Sorbact Technology for infected wounds and wounds in risk of infection⁷, as a part of your wound infection care plan as Antimicrobial resistance is not expected. Sorbact Technology dressings deliver safe and effective wound infection management⁷.
Infection prevention
An infected wound requires more extensive treatment and, in some cases, antibiotics. Preventing infection is, therefore, the first step. Thorough hand hygiene is a prominent and crucial part of infection control and preventing infection when treating wounds.
Educate and advocate about AMR
An infected wound requires more extensive treatment and, in some cases, antibiotics. Preventing infection is, therefore, the first step. Thorough hand hygiene is a prominent and crucial part of infection control and preventing infection when treating wounds.
Sorbact Technology proves that we don't have to choose between effective wound care⁷ and responsible antimicrobial use⁶. We can have both, ensuring that the next generation of patients will still have access to life-saving treatments when they truly need them.
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References
- World Health Organization, Antimicrobial resistance, WHO. 2023; accessed on October 24, 2025. [link]
- Fleming-Dutra K et al. Prevalence of Inappropriate Antibiotic Prescriptions Among US Ambulatory Care Visits, 2010-2011. JAMA. 2016;315:1864-1873. [link]
- Global burden of bacterial antimicrobial resistance in 2019: a systematic analysis. Murray, Christopher J L et al. The Lancet, Volume 399, Issue 10325, 629-655. [link]
- Rippon MG and Rogers A.: Development of silver resistance: a focus on wound care. Wounds International.2025; 16(2), 20–37. [link]
- Guest JF et al. Cohort study evaluating the burden of wounds to the UK's National Health Service in 2017/2018: update from 2012/2013. BMJ Open. 2020;10(12):e045253
- 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. [link]
- Kammerlander G et al. An investigation of Cutimed® Sorbact® as an antimicrobial alternative in wound management. Wounds UK. 2008;4:10-18 [link]
- 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. [link]