The use of an antimicrobial primary wound contact layer as liner and filler with NPWT.

In negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT), wound fillers are used to ensure that the negative pressure is applied across the entire wound surface. At present, foam and gauze are the most commonly used fillers. Both ensure equal distribution of negative pressure, but foam is more absorbent, while gauze is more malleable and conformable. There is no strong clinical research evidence demonstrating the superiority of one type of wound filler over another. However, there are reports that foam can cause pain and trauma at dressing change as a result of ingrowth of tissue into its open pore structure. For this reason, when foam is used as a filler, a liner may also be applied as a wound contact layer. This supplement describes preliminary clinical evidence on the use of Cutimed Sorbact as an alternative to foam and gauze during NPWT. Seven cases in which it was successfully used on complex pre- and postoperative wounds are described.