Abstract: The invention relates to antimicrobial wound dressings comprising (a) a biocompatible, permeable layer for application to the wound, then (b) a chitosan-containing interlayer in which chitosan is present in the form of granules, a film or a porous matrix and (c) at least one air- and oxygen-permeable layer acting as a supporting fabric and as a seal for the chitosan-containing interlayer. The embedding of the chitosan-containing layer guarantees the antimicrobial activity of the polymer without any swollen chitosan residues being left behind to contaminate the wound on removal of the dressing. The multilayer construction increases stability under mechanical stress.