Antimicrobial stewardship: wound treatment challenges

The issues with silver resistance and the effectiveness of using DACC-coated dressings in wound treatment were discussed at an Essity-sponsored symposium. Camila Fronzo noted the key points presented by three speakers at the EWMA and Journées Cicatrisations conference 2021 This conference report presents an overview of the symposium 'Being smart about wound infection: evaluating and treating wounds in the era of antimicrobial stewardship', held in October 2021 as part of the joint European Wound Management Association (EWMA) and Journées Cicatrisations virtual conference. The first speaker, Hadar Lev-Tov, talked about the rising problem of silver resistance in wound care, and presented published data that show a general bacterial resistance against silver dressings. The next speaker, Cornelia Wiegand, explained the antimicrobial activity in Cutimed Sorbact dressings (Essity) against five top World Health Organization (WHO)-relevant pathogens, for which new antibiotics are urgently needed. The third and final speaker, Ewa Klara Stürmer, presented six case studies showing the use of Cutimed Sorbact to control bacteria and biofilm on hard-to-heal (a term which has replaced 'chronic') leg ulcers. These demonstrated the effectiveness of Sorbact when managing such wounds.