ACTICOAT Flex 3 Antimicrobial Barrier Dressing

ACTICOAT Flex 3 is a sterile, highly conformable antimicrobial barrier dressing coated with nanocrystalline silver, designed for use over partial- and full-thickness wounds where antimicrobial protection is clinically indicated.

The flexible, low-adherent dressing conforms closely to the contours of the body and wound surface. Its open structure allows wound exudate to pass through into an appropriate secondary absorbent dressing while nanocrystalline silver is released into the moist wound environment.

Key features:

• Antimicrobial barrier dressing
• Uses nanocrystalline silver (NCS) technology
• Flexible and highly conformable
• Low-adherent wound-contact surface
• Helps minimise trauma during dressing changes
• Broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity
• Fast antimicrobial action – bactericidal activity demonstrated in vitro from approximately 30 minutes
• Sustained antimicrobial action for up to 3 days
• Allows exudate to pass through to a secondary dressing
• Helps maintain a moist wound-healing environment when used with an appropriate secondary dressing
• Can be cut to fit the wound
• Suitable for irregular body contours
• Can be used on appropriately managed infected wounds
• Compatible with negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) as a wound-contact layer for up to 3 days
• Requires an appropriate secondary dressing
• Sterile
• Single use
• Medical device

Nanocrystalline silver technology

ACTICOAT Flex 3 uses nanocrystalline silver, rather than a conventional silver salt incorporated into an absorbent foam or fibre dressing.

The nanocrystalline structure provides a large surface area from which silver can be released into wound fluid. Smith+Nephew states that this provides sufficient silver at a consistent concentration to maintain bactericidal activity.

This distinguishes ACTICOAT Flex 3 from products such as silver alginates or silver foams: ACTICOAT Flex 3 itself is principally an antimicrobial wound-contact/barrier dressing rather than a highly absorbent dressing.

Suitable wound types

ACTICOAT Flex 3 is indicated as an antimicrobial barrier over partial- and full-thickness wounds, including:

• Pressure ulcers / pressure injuries
• Venous leg ulcers
• Diabetic ulcers
• First- and second-degree burns
• Recipient graft sites
• Surgical sites
• Other appropriate partial- and full-thickness wounds where antimicrobial treatment is clinically indicated.

It may be used on infected wounds, but it is not intended to be the sole treatment for wound infection. Infection should be assessed and managed according to appropriate clinical protocols.

How ACTICOAT Flex 3 works

Once exposed to moisture, nanocrystalline silver is released from the dressing into the wound environment.

The dressing then:

1. Provides antimicrobial activity at the wound surface.
2. Helps protect against microbial contamination.
3. Allows wound exudate to pass through its open structure.
4. Transfers exudate into an appropriate secondary absorbent dressing.
5. Maintains close contact with the wound because of its flexible construction.
6. Helps maintain an appropriately moist wound environment when combined with a suitable secondary dressing.

How to use

ACTICOAT Flex 3 should be used according to the manufacturer's Instructions for Use and the patient's wound-care plan.

1. Cleanse the wound according to appropriate clinical practice.
2. Select a dressing large enough to cover the wound.
3. Cut the dressing to size if required.
4. Where activation or additional moisture is required, moisten according to the current ACTICOAT Flex application instructions.
5. Apply the dressing directly to the wound surface without excessive stretching.
6. Either surface of the dressing can be placed towards the wound.
7. Cover with an appropriate secondary dressing.
8. Secure according to wound location and exudate level.

ACTICOAT Flex should remain moist enough to function effectively, without creating excessive moisture or maceration.

Important note about saline

ACTICOAT application guidance has traditionally specified sterile water rather than saline for moistening the dressing, because chloride may interfere with silver availability. For that reason, I would not advise customers simply to “moisten with saline”; they should follow the current pack Instructions for Use for the specific ACTICOAT Flex 3 presentation.

Secondary dressing

ACTICOAT Flex 3 requires a suitable secondary dressing.

It is not designed to provide high-capacity exudate absorption itself. Its open structure allows fluid to pass through to the secondary dressing.

The secondary dressing should be selected according to:

• Wound exudate
• Wound size and depth
• Condition of surrounding skin
• Wound location
• Required fixation

Dressing changes

ACTICOAT Flex 3 may remain in place for up to:

3 days

depending on:

• Wound condition
• Exudate level
• Infection status
• Condition of the secondary dressing
• Clinical judgement.

Change sooner if:

• The secondary dressing becomes saturated
• Leakage develops
• The dressing dries excessively
• The dressing becomes displaced
• The wound requires reassessment
• Infection worsens

The “3” in ACTICOAT Flex 3 refers to the maximum three-day wear period. ACTICOAT Flex 7 is a separate product designed for up to seven days.

Use with NPWT

ACTICOAT Flex 3 may be used as a wound-contact layer with Negative Pressure Wound Therapy for periods of up to three days where clinically appropriate.

Infection

ACTICOAT Flex 3 can form part of the management of infected wounds, but silver dressings should be used where there is a clinical indication rather than routinely on uncomplicated wounds.

Seek clinical assessment if there is:

• Spreading redness
• Increasing pain
• Swelling
• Heat
• Purulent discharge
• Increasing or offensive odour
• Fever
• Cellulitis
• Rapid wound deterioration

Systemic antibiotics or other treatment may still be required.

Contraindications and precautions

Do not use ACTICOAT Flex 3 in patients with a known sensitivity to silver.

Important precautions include:

• For external use only
• Do not apply directly to exposed organs
• Not intended for third-degree burns
• Not compatible with oil-based products such as petrolatum/petroleum jelly
• Avoid direct contact with ECG/EEG electrodes or conductive gels
• Use in premature infants only where the clinical benefit outweighs the potential risk
• Persistent pain or stinging after application warrants reassessment and removal where appropriate.

MRI and radiotherapy

ACTICOAT contains silver.

For MRI, the dressing should be removed from the anatomical area being imaged in accordance with the product precautions.

Before radiotherapy, ACTICOAT Flex 3 should be removed. A new dressing can be applied following treatment.

Current UK NHS/dm+d presentations

5 cm × 5 cm

• Pack size: 5 dressings
• Smith+Nephew code: 66800396
• PIP: 351-0781
• NHS Supply Chain: ELY291
• BNF/dm+d: 20031900020

10 cm × 10 cm

• Standard NHS pack: 12 dressings
• Smith+Nephew code: 66800399
• PIP: 351-0799
• NHS Supply Chain: ELY292
• BNF/dm+d: 20031900021

There is also a 5-dressing manufacturer pack, code 66800398 / PIP 351-3256, but the 12-pack is the normal NHS Supply Chain presentation.

10 cm × 20 cm

• Pack size: 12 dressings
• Smith+Nephew code: 66800409
• PIP: 351-0807
• NHS Supply Chain: ELY293
• BNF/dm+d: 20031900022

20 cm × 40 cm

• Pack size: 6 dressings
• Smith+Nephew code: 66800419
• PIP: 351-0815
• NHS Supply Chain: ELY295
• BNF/dm+d: 20031900023

Smith+Nephew also lists 40 × 40 cm, box of 6 (66800432 / ELY296) and 10 × 120 cm roll, box of 6 (66800435 / ELY294). However, current August 2026 dm+d lists only the four sizes above as active standard ACTICOAT Flex 3 dm+d products, so I would keep these two larger formats off the normal pharmacy variants unless you actually supply them as specialist orders.

Product type: Antimicrobial silver barrier/wound-contact dressing
Technology: Nanocrystalline silver
Construction: Flexible, low-adherent polyester-based dressing
Absorbent: Not primarily; exudate passes to a secondary dressing
Antimicrobial: Yes
Can be cut: Yes
Secondary dressing required: Yes
NPWT compatible: Yes, where clinically appropriate
Maximum wear time: Up to 3 days
Sterile: Yes
Single use: Yes
Manufacturer: Smith+Nephew

For your website, I would therefore list the core range as 5 × 5 cm × 5, 10 × 10 cm × 12, 10 × 20 cm × 12 and 20 × 40 cm × 6. Those are the cleanest current UK/NHS-facing variants.