Skin and Soft Tissue Infections (SSTIs) are one of the reason for high rate of morbidity and mortality. Even, in the cases of successful surgeries, affected subcutaneous tissue, fascia, or muscle; remains a delay in the healing process and can lead to life-threatening conditions. This cases are propelling demand for more effective treatments to deal with such pathological situations. Recently, wound dressings loaded with antimicrobial agents has emerged as potential option to reduce wound bacterial colonization and infection to improve the healing process.

Antimicrobial wound dressing contains drugs such as antimicrobial agents, biologics such as growth factors, or they are composed of materials derived from animal sources. These dressings prevent bacterial penetration into the wound and avoid growth of microorganisms. The commonly encountered antiseptic agents in the antimicrobial dressings are silver, iodine, chlorhexidine, Polyhexamethylbiguanide (PHMB), alginate, and hydrocolloids.

Antimicrobial Wound Dressing Market Drivers

Conventional wound dressings take longer time for wound healing as compared to advanced wound dressing products such as antimicrobial and anti-infective wound dressings, which are widely used in post-operation to prevent risk of any Hospital Acquired Infections (HAIs). Antimicrobial wound dressings are rapidly replacing conventional wound dressings due to their high functional efficiency and effectiveness.

Increasing incidence of burns, trauma wounds and injuries, and diabetic ulcers are expected to drive growth of the global antimicrobial wound dressings market over the forecast period. For instance, in January 2017, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) data published in African Journal of Emergency Medicines, burn cases accounted for around 18 million disability cases and more than 2,50,000 deaths annually, out of which over 90% deaths were reported in low- and middle-income economies. The U.S. fire department responded to around 1.3 million fire incidences in 2016, out of which 3,280 civilian deaths and 15,700 civilian injuries were reported by National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

Chronic wounds have a significant impact on the health and quality of life and their families, causing pain, emotional stress, restriction of daily activities and stress, depression, distress, and anxiety, with prolonged hospital stay, and chronic morbidity. For instance, according to the data published by Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ), in October 2014, over 2.5 million individuals in the U.S. develop pressure ulcers annually, which costs the U.S. health care system around US$ 9.1 billion to US$ 11.6 billion annually.

Furthermore, increasing adoption of antimicrobial wound dressings for providing antimicrobial protection in chronic and acute wound treatment is expected to boost the antimicrobial wound dressing market size. According to the data published in the Journal of Arthroplasty in June 2014, Aquacel surgical dressings from ConvaTec Inc. significantly reduced the rate of acute periprosthetic joint infection (PJI), following total joint arthroplasty.

Antimicrobial Wound Dressing Market Restraints

Challenges in classification of antimicrobial wound dressing into the FDA’s existing medical device classification is expected to create further complications in the marketing and gaining the regulatory product approval for antimicrobial wound products. In September 2016, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) assembled the advisory panel to receive recommendations regarding the appropriate regulatory classification for wound dressings containing drugs.

Antimicrobial wound dressings product are historically approved to market through the 510(k) process under product code FRO as unclassified and pre-amendments devices. Moreover, there are different opinions on whether classify antimicrobial wound dressings in Class II or Class III. However, medical device manufacturers will be affected with the FDA’s decision to regulate wound dressings containing drugs, as FDA’s Class II is appropriate for antimicrobial dressings and allows manufacturers to easily demonstrate their effectiveness and safety, while upregulating to Class III will makes manufacturers to undergo strict regulatory guidelines regarding higher safety and effectiveness of antimicrobial wound dressing to gain product approval. These change in the classification, could impact market players to increase the price of antimicrobial wound dressings, and may require larger time period to launch the product in the market, limiting the future growth of antimicrobial wound dressing market over the forecast period.

Antimicrobial Wound Dressing Market – Regional Analysis

Geographically, the market is segmented into North America, Latin America, Europe, Middle East, Asia Pacific, and Africa. North America antimicrobial wound dressing market is expected to offer lucrative growth opportunities in near future, owing to presence of various key players in these market, increasing adoption of antimicrobial wound dressing product by patients and healthcare professionals combined with growing incidence of trauma, wound injuries, and ulcers cases in these region. For instance, the Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ) estimated that, over 2.5 million people in the U.S. develop pressure ulcers annually.

Rural areas in emerging economies of Asia, Latin America, and Africa regions provide lucrative opportunity for growth of market. Emerging economies such as India, Brazil, China, and Indonesia use cotton gauze and sterile cotton, owing to its easily availability and cost-effectiveness. Therefore, high priced antimicrobial wound dressings have low demand in these economies. However, with high economic growth, increasing government focus towards improving the healthcare infrastructure, and increasing efforts by major players to introduce low-cost advanced products is expected strengthen the antimicrobial wound dressing market growth.

Antimicrobial Wound Dressing Market – Competitor

Some of the key players operating in the market include Smith & Nephew plc. ConvaTec Group plc. Medtronic plc. (Covidien plc.), Acelity L.P. Inc. (Kinetic Concepts, Inc.), Coloplast A/S, Mölnlycke Health Care, B. Braun Melsungen AG, and Paul Hartmann AG.

Key players in the antimicrobial wound dressings market are engaged in various in-organic growth strategies to expand their product portfolio. For instance, in June 2018, Acelity L.P. Inc. made an agreement to acquire Crawford Healthcare. Crawford Healthcare is leading player in developing and commercializing innovative treatments for skin care and repair. Crawford’s wound dressing portfolio includes the leading KerraMax Care range and KerraFoam and KerraCel in the foam and antimicrobial gelling fiber Advanced Wound Dressings (AWD) categories, respectively.

Antimicrobial Wound Dressing Market – Taxonomy

By Product Type