Tissue Viability

SSIs are the third most commonly reported type of healthcare-acquired infection and the most costly1. They place a significant impact on patient welfare2 as well as presenting a heavy financial burden for the NHS3.

Leukomed® Sorbact® is an innovative post-operative film dressing with a purely physical mode of action, used to prevent surgical site infection (SSI) in closed surgical wounds. Following rigorous assessment by leading clinical and health economic experts during the NICE Medical Technology appraisal process it is proposed that Leukomed Sorbact should be considered as an option for preventing surgical site infection (SSI) in wounds with low to moderate exudate after caesarean section and vascular surgery

It should be used as part of usual measures to help reduce the risk of surgical site infection*. 

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SSI prevention: now in your hands

This innovative dressing is readily available for clinicians to use with post-operative patients, offering another tool to use to support SSI reduction.

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Potential cost savings of up to £6.5 million for the NHS

NICE reviewed cost modelling and concluded that using Leukomed Sorbact for wounds post caesarean section and vascular surgery could result in combined cost savings of up to £6.5 million by reducing the number of patients needing to stay in hospital for treatment of an SSI*.

In addition, the evidence reviewed suggests that Leukomed Sorbact:

  • reduces SSI in caesarean section and vascular surgery
  • may reduce antibiotic use
  • may reduce readmissions from wound complications

Cost savings are anticipated as Leukomed Sorbact is expected to reduce re-admissions and shorten the length of stay in hospital. For more details see the NICE resource impact report*.

Reducing SSI rates can reduce readmissions, antibiotic use, offer cost savings and benefit patient quality of life.4

Click here to read more about the NICE medical technologies guidance.

Supported by clinical evidence

The clinical evidence considered by NICE suggests that Leukomed Sorbact can reduce SSI risk in patients post caesarean section by up to 67% versus standard of care6,7, , and by up to 42%  in patients post vascular surgery8,9.

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For more information on Leukomed Sorbact and the support available, please click contact us to send an email enquiry.

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NICE Medical Technologies Guidance

Read more about the NICE Medical Technologies Guidance for Leukomed Sorbact.

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Health economics data

Preventing SSI after caesarean section and vascular surgery could help save the NHS up to £6.5 million per year.

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*© NICE 2021 Leukomed Sorbact for preventing surgical site infection. Available from

www.nice.org.uk/guidance/mtg55. All rights reserved. Subject to Notice of rights.

NICE guidance is prepared for the National Health Service in England. All NICE guidance is subject to regular review and may be updated or withdrawn. NICE accepts no responsibility for the use of its content in this product/publication.

  1. Wounds UK (2020) Best Practice Statement: Post-operative wound care – reducing the risk of surgical site infection. Wounds UK, LondonCcc
  2. Taylor L, Mills E, George S, Seckam A (2020) Reducing SSI rates for women birthing by caesarean section. J Community Nurs 34(3): 50–3
  3. Jenks PJ, Laurent M, McQuarry S, Watkins R. Clinical and economic burden of surgical site infection (SSI) and predicted financial consequences of elimination of SSI from an English hospital. J Hosp Infect 2014; 86(1):24–33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2013.09.012
  4. Totty JP, Moss JWE, Barker E, et al. (2020) The impact of surgical site infection on hospitalisation, treatment costs, and health related quality of life after vascular surgery. Int Wound J. 2020;1–8. https://doi.org/10.1111/iwj.
  5. NICE Resource impact report: Leukomed Sorbact for preventing surgical site infection (MTG55) (2021).  https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/mtg55/resources/resource-impact-report-pdf-9011234413
  6. Stanirowski et al. (2016a).  Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating Dialkylcarbamoyl Chloride Impregnated Dressings for the Prevention of Surgical Site Infections in Adult Women Undergoing Cesarean Section. SURGICAL INFECTIONS; 17(4): 427-435
  7. Stanirowski PJ., et al. (2016b). Stanirowski PJ., et al. (2016b). Dialkylcarbamoyl chloride-impregnated dressing for the prevention of surgical site infection in women undergoing cesarean section: a pilot studyArch Med Sci 2016;12(5): 1036–1042Arch Med Sci 2016;12(5): 1036–1042
  8. Bua. N et al. 2017 Dialkylcarbamoyl Chloride (DACC) Dressings in the Prevention of Surgical Site Infections After Non-implant Vascular Surgery: Annals of Vascular Surgery; 44: 387–392 dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.avsg.2017.03.198  2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Manuscript received: October 11, 2016; manuscript accepted: March 28, 2017; published online: 5 May 2017
  9. Totty, J et al. (2019) Int Wound J. 2019;1–8.
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