New NICE guidance recommends that Leukomed Sorbact should be considered as an option for people with wounds that are expected to have low to moderate exudate after caesarean section and vascular surgery.
It is estimated that by adopting this technology, the NHS may save up to £5.3 million per year for caesarean section and up to £1.2 million per year for vascular surgery. Cost savings are expected because fewer people will need to stay in hospital for treatment of surgical site infection (SSI).
Leukomed Sorbact is an interactive dressing with hydrophobic properties that allow it to irreversibly bind bacteria and fungus to the dressing. The pathogens are then removed when the dressing is changed.
Evidence suggests that using Leukomed Sorbact instead of standard dressings after caesarean section and vascular surgery reduces the rate of SSI and leads to cost savings.
Studies have shown that, up to 30 days after surgery, SSI rates were lower for people having Leukomed Sorbact compared with those having standard dressings. The difference was not statistically significant in all studies.
The dressing is also associated with less need for antibiotics compared with standard dressings, although, again, the differences were not always statistically significant.
Research also found that women with SSI in the standard dressings group had 2.9 outpatient hospital visits. Women with SSI in the Leukomed Sorbact group had 4.6 visits, a difference that was statistically significant (P=.02). However, this was a secondary analysis in a small subgroup of women. The same study found that women with SSI who had Leukomed Sorbact had fewer additional days in hospital (0 vs 8.2 days for standard dressings; P=.22).
Evidence on the use of the technology is currently limited to caesarean section and vascular surgery. Hence, the dressing is only recommended in these settings.
