Implementing antimicrobial stewardship in wound care: four case collections illustrating early intervention following a new international guideline on antimicrobial stewardship and the role of microbial-binding dressings

Wound infection is a significant clinical and health-economic burden, compounded by rising antimicrobial resistance linked to inappropriate use of topical antiseptics and systemic antibiotics. Microbial-binding dressings (MBDs) offer a non-microbiocidal means of reducing wound bioburden and supporting infection prevention and control (IPC) in line with antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) principles. In 2026, an international guideline set out evidence-based recommendations for IPC in wound care aligned with AMS, based on early intervention and use of MBDs. The guideline was translated into four practical clinical pathways covering closed surgical incisions, diabetes-related foot ulcers, hard-to-heal wounds and venous leg ulcers. This supplement presents four case collections that provide real-world examples of the implementation of the guideline and its pathways, with clinician-reported observations supporting the role of MBDs in reducing bioburden, promoting healing and reducing reliance on antimicrobial therapy. Declaration of interest: This supplement was supported by Essity AB, Sweden. The authors received honoraria for their contributions. Essity AB could provide feedback on product-related content, with implementation at the authors’ discretion.