Study concludes that a burn wound management strategy including nanocrystalline silver dressings may reduce costs and optimise treatment of infections

Smith & Nephew plc (LSE:SN, NYSE:SNN), the global medical technology business, welcomes the conclusions of an independent study that increased use of antiseptics and  nanocrystalline silver dressings in a burn management strategy may reduce costs, optimise treatment of infections and reduce antibiotic use.¹   

“A 2000 patient retrospective assessment of a new strategy for burn wound management in view of infection prevention and treatment” further concludes that such a strategy can help to reduce the incidence of sepsis; including sepsis caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and can be cost effective when treating in hospitalised burn patients. The study utilised Smith & Nephew’s ACTICOAT™ and ACTICOAT Flex 3 antimicrobial silver dressings as part of the overall strategy.

The centre included in the study saw a total cost reduction of 23% from 2014 to 2016.  The reported increase in expenditure for antiseptic solutions and dressings (34,554 USD) was more than offset by the USD 106,055 decrease in expenditure for antibiotics and antimycotics, resulting in a total reduction in cost of USD 71,501.

“We know how healthcare professionals are under pressure to reduce antibiotic usage and infection rates,” said Dr Andy Weymann, Chief Medical Officer, Smith & Nephew. “This evidence highlights how a burn wound management strategy can be made more cost effective and help to optimise the treatment of infections. It is encouraging to see that such a strategy can decrease the use of antibiotics.”

The new burn wound management strategy included a reduction in use of systemic antibiotics and an increase the use of topical antimicrobial products, such as silver-containing dressings and antiseptics. The methodology examined the infection prevention and treatment in hospitalised burn patients before and after the strategy introduction  

The new strategy was implemented in response to a substantial increase in antibiotic resistance. 2,000 patients with an 18.4% mean body surface area affected by burn who were treated between 2014 and 2016 at a single centre in Poland were analysed.

A reduction of 19.8%in total costs of antibiotics and antimycotics was reported; antibiotic expenditure decreased whereas expenditure for antimicrobial dressings and antiseptics increased. The new strategy also helped to reduce the development of drug resistance in P. aeruginosa. In addition to the antiseptic solutions, ACTICOAT and ACTICOAT Flex 3, local burn wound management strategies in the study may have included other interventions, such as debridement and enteral/parenteral nutrition.

“We welcome this study that adds to the evidence around nanocrystalline silver dressings and their role in preventing and managing infection,” said Paolo Di Vincenzo, Smith & Nephew’s SVP of Advanced Wound Management. “A previous study has also shown that ACTICOAT decreases need for antibiotics from 57% to 5.2%^2** helping to reduce the human economic cost of wounds.”

*  With other interventions
**  Baseline :Patients showers in 4 % CHG soap then treatment with Silvazine (SSD and CHG cream)
New protocol: Patients showers in 4 % CHG soap then treatment then treatment with ACTICOAT

Enquiries

Media

Dave Snyder
+1 (978) 749-1440
Smith & Nephew plc

About Smith & Nephew

Smith & Nephew is a global medical technology business dedicated to supporting healthcare professionals in their daily efforts to improve the lives of their patients. With leadership positions in Orthopaedic Reconstruction, Advanced Wound Management, Sports Medicine and Trauma & Extremities, Smith & Nephew has more than 15,000 employees and a presence in more than 100 countries. Annual sales in 2017 were almost $4.8 billion. Smith & Nephew is a member of the FTSE100 (LSE: SN, NYSE: SNN).

For more information about Smith & Nephew, please visit our corporate website www.smith-nephew.com, follow @SmithNephewplc on Twitter or visit SmithNephewplc on Facebook.com

^{Forward-looking Statements}

^{This document may contain forward-looking statements that may or may not prove accurate. For example, statements regarding expected revenue growth and trading margins, market trends and our product pipeline are forward-looking statements. Phrases such as "aim", "plan", "intend", "anticipate", "well-placed", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target", "consider" and similar expressions are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from what is expressed or implied by the statements. For Smith & Nephew, these factors include: economic and financial conditions in the markets we serve, especially those affecting health care providers, payers and customers; price levels for established and innovative medical devices; developments in medical technology; regulatory approvals, reimbursement decisions or other government actions; product defects or recalls or other problems with quality management systems or failure to comply with related regulations; litigation relating to patent or other claims; legal compliance risks and related investigative, remedial or enforcement actions; disruption to our supply chain or operations or those of our suppliers; competition for qualified personnel; strategic actions, including acquisitions and dispositions, our success in performing due diligence, valuing and integrating acquired businesses; disruption that may result from transactions or other changes we make in our business plans or organisation to adapt to market developments; and numerous other matters that affect us or our markets, including those of a political, economic, business, competitive or reputational nature. Please refer to the documents that Smith & Nephew has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including Smith & Nephew's most recent annual report on Form 20-F, for a discussion of certain of these factors. Any forward-looking statement is based on information available to Smith & Nephew as of the date of the statement. All written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to Smith & Nephew are qualified by this caution. Smith & Nephew does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect any change in circumstances or in Smith & Nephew's expectations.}

^{◊ Trademark of Smith & Nephew. Certain marks registered US Patent and Trademark Office.}