Your Power to Heal

Where to buy
Where to buy

Antimicrobial resistance:
What is AMR and how can Sorbact® Technology help combat it?

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.

The text “At least 30% of antibiotics prescribed in outpatient settings are unnecessary” is shown on top of image displaying a Health Care professional inspecting the wound dressing on a patient.

The reality of antimicrobial resistance

  • At least 30% of antibiotics prescribed in outpatient settings are unnecessary²
  • An estimated 4.95 million deaths globally were associated with bacterial AMR in 2019³
  • A projected 8.22 million deaths globally attributed to AMR in 20504
Open wound displayed on patient as health care professional prepares to apply dressing.

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 resistance5. 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 cost6. Patients with hard-to-heal wounds, leg ulcers, skin ulcers or infected surgical wounds return with complications, stretching healthcare resources and prolonging suffering.

A Health Care professional inspecting an applied wound infection dressing.

Effective wound management can help break the cycle

DACC™-coated dressings with Sorbact Technology, support infection management while minimising risk for antimicrobial resistance, supporting AMS management of hard-to-heal and surgical wounds5.

This means healthcare professionals can effectively manage wound infections7 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.

Read the complete publication

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:

Icon displaying an arrow pointing down on top of pink background colour.

Consider wound management that reduces antibiotic use

Choose Cutimed Sorbact dressings with Sorbact Technology for infected wounds and wounds in risk of infection8, as a part of your wound infection care plan as antimicrobial resistance is not expected. Sorbact Technology dressings deliver safe and effective wound infection management8.
Icon displaying multiple particles of bacteria on top of pink background colour.

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.
Icon displaying people connecting on top of pink background colour.

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 care⁸ and responsible antimicrobial use⁷. We can have both, ensuring that the next generation of patients will still have access to life-saving treatments when they truly need them.

UPDATED: Best Practice Statement

Best Practice Statement: Antimicrobial Stewardship Strategies for Wound Management: Recommendations for the UK

Download here

Read more

References

  1. World Health Organization, Antimicrobial resistance, WHO. 2023; accessed on October 24, 2025. link
  2. Fleming-Dutra K et al. Prevalence of Inappropriate Antibiotic Prescriptions Among US Ambulatory Care Visits, 2010-2011. JAMA. 2016;315:1864-1873. link
  3. Murray, Christopher J L et al. (2022) Global burden of bacterial antimicrobial resistance in 2019: a systematic analysis. The Lancet, Volume 399, Issue 10325, 629-655. link
  4. Naghavi, Mosen 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. link
  5. Rippon MG and Rogers A.: Development of silver resistance: a focus on wound care. Wounds International.2025; 16(2), 20–37. link
  6. 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
  7. 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
  8. Kammerlander G et al. An investigation of Cutimed® Sorbact® as an antimicrobial alternative in wound management. Wounds UK. 2008;4:10-18 link
  9. 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