Maternity

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*.

Click here for full product and ordering information.

Using Leukomed Sorbact to reduce SSI risk after caesarean section may enhance recovery

Based on Stanirowski et al. and other data submitted the NICE Medical Technologies guidance MTG55 states that Leukomed Sorbact:

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

Reducing SSI may have additional benefits, such as new mothers being able to care for their babies and a positive effect on postnatal mental health. The committee concluded that reducing the incidence of SSI after caesarean section was likely to reduce the need for prolonged hospital stays and enhance recovery.

Potential cost savings of up to £5.3 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 expected because fewer people will need to stay in hospital for treatment of surgical site infection. For more details, see the NICE resource impact report*.

In addition, the NICE Resource Impact Report suggests that using Leukomed Sorbact dressings is expected to shorten the length of stay in hospital and help to reduce the use of antibiotics.⁴

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

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*.

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 care.^6,7

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

*^© NICE 2021 Leukomed Sorbact for preventing surgical site infection. Available from www.nice.org.uk/guidance/htg567. 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.

Medical references

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. doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2013.09.012
⁴ National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (2021) ‘Resource impact report: Leukomed Sorbact for preventing surgical site infection (MTG55): NICE. Access here. (Accessed: 16 Dec 2025)
⁵ 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. doi.org/10.1111/iwj.13526.
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