Abstract: A wound dressing comprises: (i) a core of a non-woven layer comprising gelling fibres and having first and second major faces, (ii) a first layer of an absorbent foam positioned with one face adjacent to the first face of the non-woven layer, (iii) a second layer of an absorbent foam positioned with one face thereof adjacent to the second face of the non-woven layer, (iv) an open material positioned against that face of the first absorbent foam layer remote from the non-woven layer; and (v) an open material or a continuous semi-permeable film positioned against that face of the second absorbent layer remote from the non-woven layer. Layers (i)-(v) may be bonded together.

Abstract: A wound dressing comprises: (i) a core of a non-woven layer comprising gelling fibres and having first and second major faces, (ii) a first layer of an absorbent foam positioned with one face adjacent to the first face of the non-woven layer, (iii) a second layer of an absorbent foam positioned with one face thereof adjacent to the second face of the non-woven layer, (iv) an open material positioned against that face of the first absorbent foam layer remote from the non-woven layer; and (v) an open material or a continuous semi-permeable film positioned against that face of the second absorbent layer remote from the non-woven layer. Layers (i)-(v) may be bonded together.

Abstract: The combination of a first species which is a polyanionic compound and a second species which is an antimicrobial agent is used for the treatment of microbial biofilms and for the topical treatment of wounds. The combination may be incorporated in a wound dressing. The polyanionic compound may be a polyphosphate, such as an alkali metal polyphosphate, e.g. sodium hexametaphosphate. Examples of antimicrobial agents include metallic silver, silver compounds, iodine, PHMB (polyhexamethylene biguanide), acetic acid, chlorhexidine, aminoglycosides (e.g. amikacin, gentamicin, streptomycin and tobramycin), ansamycins, carbacephem, cephalosporins, glycopeptides (e.g. vancomycin), macrolides (eg clarithromycin), monobactams and sulfonamides).