Smith and Nephew’s Acticoat dressings ‘effective against superbugs’

Smith and Nephew has announced data from a study showing the potential its Acticoat silver-coated antimicrobial dressings can offer in the fight against superbugs.

An in-vitro laboratory study showed that the dressings – which contain patented nanocrystalline silver technology – are bactericidal against some antibiotic resistant-organisms carrying the NDM-1 enzyme.

Among the infections that Acticoat can help to combat are E. coli and Klebsiella spp., both of which are key causes of hospital-acquired infections in healthcare facilities around the world.

Given the spread of superbugs such as these and growing international concerns about the development of antibiotic resistance, effective bactericidal products such as Acticoat are highly sought after.

Tom Dugan, North American president for advanced wound management at Smith and Nephew, said: "Making this information widely available is part of our obligation to address public health issues and support clinicians and the patients they serve, helping them to reduce the human and economic costs of wounds."

Last month, the company announced the launch of a new modular rail system for external fixation and deformity correction, developed in association with Dr Dror Paley.