Antimicrobial Wound Dressings Market

Market Overview

The global antimicrobial wound dressings market revenue was estimated at USD 1.21 billion in 2022. It is estimated to reach an expected value of USD 2.01 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 5.4% over the forecast period (2023–2031). The introduction of advanced antimicrobial dressing materials is driving the global market.

Antimicrobial wound dressings reduce the risk of infections and help in faster healing of wounds. Wounds get infected with several pathogens, often acquired from the surrounding environment. Bacteria, along with other microorganisms found on the skin, is the primary culprit behind wound infections. However, occasional mixed illnesses have been attributed to other microbes, such as fungi. There are multiple reasons for the slower wound healing.

One among them is infections from microbes. During the early phases of chronic wound development, the wound contains gram-positive bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Gram-negative Pseudomonas species are frequently seen in the advanced phases of wound infection. These bacteria tend to penetrate deeper layers of the wound, leading to substantial tissue damage. As a result, patients experience delayed wound healing.

Wound dressings with antimicrobial features were introduced to kill and prevent the growth of these microbes in the wound. Market players offer a wide range of wound dressings, such as silver-based, foam-based, alginate-based, and honey-based dressings with antimicrobial properties that reduce microbial infections and hasten wound recovery.

Market Dynamics

Market Drivers

Introduction of Advanced Antimicrobial Dressing Materials

Combating bacterial wound infections is the subject of numerous forms of global research. One such study from the Biointerfaces lab created a cellulose membrane, including antimicrobial peptides. This skin-friendly barrier made of a plant-based substance kills microorganisms to achieve an antibacterial effect. The scientists created multifunctional peptides that bind to cellulose fibers and are antibacterial. Scientists assert that peptides have various advantages over bigger proteins, including being simpler to make, more stable, and more responsive to the chemical conditions of a wound. Moreover, in the future, antimicrobial membranes will be given new activities. The peptides may have binding sites functionalized to allow for the regulated release of additional therapeutic agents. The products are in the infant stages of research and will be a promising material for future antimicrobial dressings.

Additionally, a new innovative dressing uses a patient's cells to regenerate lost tissue. This may soon replace antiseptics, stitches, and skin grafts used to treat chronic wounds. The dressing promises to reduce the risk of scarring and infection while making the healing process less agonizing than the existing dressing methods. Histogen, a regenerative medicine company based in San Diego, is working on a dressing that heals wounds without scarring. It makes its wound dressing, called Exceltrix, by extracting human extracellular matrix proteins and growth factors from the bioreactor and forming them into a thin wafer. It adds an antimicrobial peptide developed at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) to treat infection in chronic wounds. Exceltrix looks like a paper sheet and is 3 millimeters thick.

Clinicians can cut and reshape the sheets to fit the size of the wound and layer them for deeper wounds. The company recently received a USD 750,000 Small Business Innovation Research Phase II grant from The National Science Foundation to demonstrate ways of manufacturing the product in commercial-size quantities. These upcoming dressing materials from the chitosan-based material, dressing from the human extracellular matrix, and peptide-added cellulose membranes will greatly impact antimicrobial wounding. These are proven to have better healing capacity for existing wounds. Such product development drives market growth.

Increased Prevalence of Acute and Chronic Injuries and Wound Infections

Wounds, including acute and chronic wounds, are a major healthcare burden globally due to their high prevalence in various acute and chronic diseases. There is a substantial increase in the occurrence of both acute and chronic diseases on a global scale. Roughly 33% of adults worldwide experience the presence of two or more chronic diseases, also known as multiple chronic conditions (MCC). Chronic diseases encompass cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), cancer, chronic lung disorders, and diabetes. The prevalence of MCCs in the US is approximately 26%, in the UK at 37%, and in the urban South Asian region at 9.4%.

Chronic wounds mostly include DFUs, pressure ulcers, venous ulcers, and surgical site injuries that persist for over a month. Chronic wounds cannot heal normally and need special wound care management. Around 1% to 2% of the population in developed countries is projected to experience a chronic wound during their lifetime. Untreated chronic wounds cause the loss of a limb or even death. WHO reported that the prevalence of nosocomial infections ranges between 3% to 21%, with wound infections accounting for 5% to 34% of the total nosocomial infections. All such instances drive market growth.

Market Restraint

Increased Availability of Substitutes for Antimicrobial Dressing

Negative Pressure Wound Therapy is a procedure used to extract fluid and eliminate infection from a wound to facilitate healing. A specialized dressing is securely applied over the wound, and a delicate vacuum pump is connected. Patients with burns, pressure ulcers, diabetic ulcers, chronic (long-lasting) wounds, and injuries are recommended negative pressure wound therapy. In addition, NPWT is effective in wound treatments, and physicians prefer NPWT over conventional or antimicrobial-based dressing. They are widely adopted across developed and developing countries. For instance, NPETP is commercially available in India, Brazil, China, and South Africa. Some patented and inexpensive technologies are easily adopted among rural and urban populations. However, this is not covered by insurance in some countries, but due to the faster cure of wounds for the patient, NPWT is widely accepted in healthcare.

Furthermore, conventional wound dressings are still widely used in developing countries. There is no proper classification of the dressing in wound care. This limits the use of antimicrobial dressing. Usually, post-operative wounds in developing countries are treated with conventional dressings. Surgeons may not consider the appropriate selection of a post-operative dressing. However, choosing the most suitable wound dressing can prevent skin breakdown from occurring in a simple surgical wound. Choosing more expensive, advanced dressings (compared with conventional simple self-adhesive gauze-based dressings such as silver-impregnated appears to have more clinical and cost-related problems for patients. This limits the use of antimicrobial dressing and drives the use of conventional dressing in the market.

Market Opportunities

Technological Advancements and Product Launches

Market players strategically focus on developing and commercial launch of their wound care products for treating acute and chronic wounds. New product approvals/launches and R&D activities help them expand their presence, strengthen market growth, and sustain their market position. These players are actively participating in introducing innovative technologies to break into and capitalize on the market's enormous development potential. In 2020, market players introduced many products at the country, regional, and global levels, even during the pandemic. For Instance, Blue-ready border dressing from Hydrofera provides the perfect option for atraumatic dressing changes. In addition, it also provides the added safety measure to help prevent infections and aid the healing process.

Similarly, Mölnlycke Health Care introduced Exufiber in 2019, which is performing well in the market. Exufiber Ag+ with Hydrolock technology is a sterile, non-woven gelling fiber design with an antimicrobial action against a broad range of wound-relevant pathogens. It also has a high absorption and retention capacity to provide a moist wound environment. It can transfer fluid to a secondary dressing, which helps in faster wound healing. These new featured products are better than conventional products, helping attract end-users in the market and capturing the market share, which provides immense potential for the market.

Regional Analysis

Region-wise, the global antimicrobial wound dressings market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa.

North America's antimicrobial wound dressings market share is anticipated to exhibit a CAGR of 4.51% during the forecast period. One of the most competitive marketplaces for antimicrobial dressing products is North America, which also provides the majority of vendors' revenue. This is due to several variables, including a wider target market, greater public knowledge of the existence of cutting-edge technologies, and affordability through national insurance or reimbursement possibilities. In the region, almost 6.5 million people have chronic wounds that require ongoing care. This region uses a lot of advanced antimicrobial wound care dressings, especially in comparison to other areas.

Moreover, the two countries that contribute the most to North American markets' revenue are the US and Canada. A significant portion of the region is occupied by the US, which has a sophisticated healthcare system. This can be attributed to the larger target demographic. For example, antimicrobial wound dressings are influenced by the fact that there will be more than 100 million diabetics worldwide and more than 55 million elderly persons by 2020.

Europe is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 5.3% during the forecast period. Germany has a population of approximately 900,000 individuals suffering from chronic wounds. Hard-to-heal wounds are concerned with high treatment costs and are mostly treated in the outpatient care sector. Wound dressings are the primary cost drivers in venous leg ulcer (VLU) care. In 2018, about 1% of the German population was diagnosed with a VLU, with the prevalence in people above the age of 60 being higher (3.9%). In treating chronic ulcers with heavy bacterial contamination, wound dressings that contain antibacterial agents (e.g., silver) are commonly used.

Moreover, the use of antimicrobial dressing is limited in a few places due to the lack of infrastructure and awareness among physicians. However, the inclination toward the use of antimicrobial dressings is increasing. These dressings are used in practitioners' daily practice to fight wound infection.

Asia-Pacific is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the projected period. This is because of the rising geriatric population, road accidents, and cases of diabetes and burns. India is expected to be the future diabetic capital of the world. There is an increasing burning incidence due to the lack of safety in countries like India. For example, the World Health Organization (WHO) stated that nearly 1 million people yearly suffer moderate to severe burns in India. People can suffer from severe wounds due to road accidents, which require advanced wound care products for recovery. These factors are leading to the growth of the advanced wound care market, including antimicrobial wound dressing in this region.

Segmental Analysis

The global antimicrobial wound dressings market is segmented based on product, wound type, and end-user.

By product, the global antimicrobial wound dressings market is categorized into hydrogel dressing, foam dressing, collagen dressing, alginate dressing, and other dressings.

The foam segment dominates the global market and is anticipated to exhibit a CAGR of 5.6% during the forecast period. Antimicrobial foam dressing has been in high demand for the past 75 years due to its cost-effectiveness compared to silver dressing and other antimicrobial treatments. Its ability to reduce cross-contamination between patients, clinicians, and the environment is another of its key selling points. Foam dressings are generally made from polyurethane foam, while other foam dressings are hydrophilic; their absorbent rates and absorbency vary with composite and thickness. Foams may contain or be layered with silver to improve antibacterial performance and promote healing.

Based on wound type, the global antimicrobial wound dressings market is segmented into acute and chronic wound care. 

The chronic wound care segment owns the highest market share and is anticipated to exhibit a CAGR of 5.71% during the forecast period. Chronic wounds encompass many injuries, such as pressure ulcers, lower extremity ulcers, and DFUs. The high rate of morbidity and mortality related to chronic wounds makes them an important issue in public health. As a result of both direct and indirect expenses, they place a tremendous strain on healthcare systems, which are crucial for nations to provide treatment to their citizens.

In addition, they cause a substantial loss of well-being and impair the quality of life for sufferers, which has a considerable social impact. Chronic wounds are highly prone to infections, and antimicrobial dressing is important in preventing infection and helping patients recover faster. This use of antimicrobial dressing among end-users is becoming popular to reduce infections and re-admissions of patients to hospitals, especially in developed countries, where patients are covered by insurance or reimbursed.

Based on end-users, the global antimicrobial dressing market is classified into hospitals, specialty wound management clinics, LTCFs, home healthcare settings, and others.

The hospitals segment dominates the global market and is anticipated to exhibit a CAGR of 5.2% during the forecast period. Hospitals are the first point of contact for patients with any health condition. Diabetic patients prone to wounds are usually treated in hospitals. Moreover, hospitals are equipped with the latest machines and technology for diagnosis, monitoring of the wound condition, and quick healing. Most hospitals now limit the number of visits by providing dedicated home care. Hospital wound care departments usually deal with infective and non-infective problems in the lower limbs and feet of patients with diabetes and non-diabetics.

Furthermore, they also deal with other surgical problems among diabetic patients. Dedicated wound care assistants and nurses support this wound care division. All high-risk diabetic foot cases requiring intensive care services (ICU) and major amputations are done at these hospitals. Various advanced technologies for diabetic foot care and most wound care products are available, including antimicrobial dressing.

Recent Developments

• April 2023 - Convatec Group Plc announced it acquired the anti-infective nitric oxide technology platform of 30 Technology Limited, which includes new product assets and research and development. In addition to applications in advanced wound care, Convatec will explore the application of this highly innovative technology platform across its business categories.
• October 2023 - Flinders University researchers have made a substantial advancement in the field of wound treatment by employing a novel methodology. Through the utilization of an argon atmospheric plasma jet, researchers have effectively converted Spirulina maxima, a type of blue-green microalgae, into extremely thin bioactive coatings.