Clinical Information
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
Cost modelling shows that the reduced rate of surgical site infection with Leukomed Sorbact compared with standard surgical dressings leads to savings of:
- £107 per person after caesarean section
- £18 per person after vascular surgery
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 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*.
With SSI, the cost is more than financial
SSIs after caesarean section can keep new mums in hospital longer, missing all-important days at home with their new family. 21% of vascular patients with an SSI are readmitted to hospital5.
Reducing SSI rates can reduce readmissions, antibiotic use, offer cost savings and benefit patient quality of life.4
Clinical evidence
Evidence shows that Leukomed Sorbact can reduce SSI risk in patients post caesarean section by up to 67%.
Health economics data
Preventing SSI after caesarean section and vascular surgery could help save the NHS up to £6.5 million per year.
*© 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.
- Wounds UK (2020) Best Practice Statement: Post-operative wound care – reducing the risk of surgical site infection. Wounds UK, LondonCcc
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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.
