Molnlycke Melgisorb® Ag Antimicrobial Alginate Dressing — Silver Zirconium Phosphate, High-G Alginate + CMC, 5 Sizes

A three-material antimicrobial alginate dressing with a uniquely formulated ionic silver complex — silver sodium hydrogen zirconium phosphate — that delivers sustained silver ion release for up to 21 days in vitro, longer than any standard silver alginate dressing. Melgisorb® Ag is Molnlycke's silver-containing antimicrobial calcium alginate dressing, built from a combination of high-G (guluronic acid) calcium alginate, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), and an ionic silver complex — silver sodium hydrogen zirconium phosphate — that releases silver ions on contact with wound exudate. The high-G alginate + CMC construction provides high absorbency, high wet tensile strength, and the cohesive gel formation that enables intact one-piece removal with minimal residue. The silver complex provides broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against microorganisms commonly associated with wound colonization and infection, supports odor reduction in infected wounds, and acts as an effective barrier to microbial penetration of the dressing. Suitable for use on critically colonized wounds under medical supervision, infected wounds, and moderate to heavily exuding wounds where antimicrobial protection and high-volume fluid management are both clinical priorities. Available in five sizes including flat sheets and rope. Can be used under compression bandaging.

✔ Silver Sodium Hydrogen Zirconium Phosphate — Up to 21 Days Antimicrobial Activity In Vitro    ✔ High-G Alginate + CMC — High Wet Tensile Strength, One-Piece Intact Removal    ✔ Odor Reduction — Antimicrobial Action Reduces Wound Odor in Infected Wounds    ✔ Compression Compatible — Suitable for Use Under Compression Bandage Systems

Product Details & Available Sizes

Indicated For — Wound Types

• Critically colonized wounds — under medical supervision of a healthcare professional
• Infected wounds — local wound infection management in conjunction with appropriate clinical assessment
• Wounds with increased risk of infection requiring a prophylactic antimicrobial primary dressing
• Pressure injuries — moderate to heavily exuding stages with bioburden concerns
• Venous leg ulcers — including under compression bandage systems
• Diabetic and neuropathic foot ulcers with moderate to heavy drainage
• Post-operative and traumatic wounds at risk of infection
• Graft and donor sites
• Cavity wounds — using rope form for packing
• Superficial and partial thickness burns with significant exudate
• Sloughy wounds requiring autolytic debridement support in a moist wound environment
• Wounds with wound odor as a quality-of-life concern

Contraindications: Not for dry wounds, third-degree burns, or surgical implantation. Do not use on patients with known sensitivity to alginates or silver. External use only.

How Melgisorb Ag Works — The Three-Material Construction

Melgisorb Ag combines three materials in a single non-woven pad, each contributing a distinct clinical function to the overall dressing performance.

High-G (Guluronic Acid) Calcium Alginate: As with Silvercel and other premium silver alginates, Melgisorb Ag uses a high-G formulation rather than a standard high-M (mannuronic acid) alginate. High-G alginates form stiffer, more structurally stable gels under saturation than high-M alginates — the key property that underpins intact one-piece removal and resistance to fiber fragmentation. When the alginate fibers contact wound exudate, calcium-to-sodium ion exchange converts the dry fiber pad to a cohesive gel that fills the wound bed contour while maintaining its structural integrity under the fluid load typical of heavily exuding wounds.

Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC): CMC contributes additional absorptive capacity, gel cohesion, and moisture retention to the pad matrix beyond what alginate alone provides. The CMC component increases total fluid-holding capacity, maintains a consistently moist wound interface throughout the wear period, and further supports autolytic debridement by keeping the wound environment optimally hydrated between changes.

Silver Sodium Hydrogen Zirconium Phosphate — Ionic Silver Complex: This is the key differentiator between Melgisorb Ag and most other silver alginate products. Rather than using silver-coated nylon fibers (as in Silvercel/X-Static) or ionic silver compounds applied directly to alginate (as in some silver alginate formulations), Melgisorb Ag incorporates silver into a ceramic zirconium phosphate matrix — silver sodium hydrogen zirconium phosphate. This ceramic carrier releases silver ions in a controlled, sustained manner specifically in the presence of wound exudate. The ceramic matrix holds the silver in an insoluble, stable form until activated by the ion exchange with wound fluid, and the resulting sustained-release kinetics are what enable the extended up-to-21-day in vitro antimicrobial duration — significantly longer than the 7-day claims made by most silver alginate competitors.

• High-G alginate provides structural gel stability for high wet tensile strength and intact removal
• CMC adds absorbency, gel cohesion, and sustained moist wound environment
• Silver sodium hydrogen zirconium phosphate — ceramic ionic silver complex with exudate-activated release
• Up to 21 days in vitro antimicrobial activity — the longest sustained-release duration among major silver alginate dressings
• Broad-spectrum antimicrobial coverage against gram-positive and gram-negative wound pathogens
• Effective barrier to microbial penetration through the dressing
• Antimicrobial activity reduces wound odor in infected and colonized wounds
• Autolytic debridement supported by moist wound environment — gel aids in loosening slough and necrotic tissue
• High wet tensile strength — dressing maintains cohesion at full exudate saturation for one-piece removal with minimal residue

The 21-Day Antimicrobial Duration — Why It Matters Clinically

Most silver wound dressings — including silver foam, silver hydrofiber, and silver alginate products — make claims of 7-day antimicrobial duration based on in vitro testing. Melgisorb Ag's silver sodium hydrogen zirconium phosphate ceramic complex demonstrates in vitro antimicrobial activity for up to 21 days under test conditions. This extended duration has two practical clinical implications. First, on wounds where exudate levels allow longer wear periods, the dressing's antimicrobial protection remains active throughout a longer change interval without requiring as frequent replacement to maintain antibacterial efficacy. Second, the ceramic sustained-release mechanism means silver ion availability tracks exudate production — more exudate activates more silver release from the ceramic carrier, while lower exudate results in proportionally lower release — creating a self-regulating delivery system that aligns silver output with the wound's actual fluid production rather than depleting a fixed silver reservoir at a constant rate regardless of wound conditions.

Melgisorb Ag vs. Melgisorb Plus — Choosing Between the Two

Molnlycke offers two versions of the Melgisorb alginate dressing that share the same high-G alginate + CMC construction but differ in their antimicrobial content:

• Melgisorb Ag (this product): Contains silver sodium hydrogen zirconium phosphate for sustained antimicrobial silver activity. Indicated for infected wounds, critically colonized wounds, and wounds where bioburden management is a clinical priority alongside exudate management. The correct choice when infection control is part of the wound care objective
• Melgisorb Plus (non-silver): Same high-G alginate + CMC construction without the silver component. Indicated for moderate to heavily exuding wounds where antimicrobial activity is not a clinical priority — wounds that are clean and granulating but producing significant exudate. The non-silver version when infection risk is not elevated and pure exudate management and moist wound environment are the goals

Sheet vs. Rope — When to Use Each Form

• Sheet Forms (2"x2", 4"x4", 6"x6", 8"x12"): For accessible shallow to moderately deep wound beds where both exudate absorption and sustained antimicrobial silver delivery across the wound surface are required. Apply dry directly to the wound bed — no pre-moistening needed. Select a size appropriate to the wound; the dressing can be cut to fit with sterile scissors. Cover with an appropriate secondary dressing. As wound conditions improve and exudate decreases, moisten the wound bed with sterile saline before application to maintain the moist interface
• Rope Form (1.2"x18", item #255600): For cavity wounds, tunnel wounds, and sinus tracts requiring combined antimicrobial packing and exudate management throughout the wound channel. Loosely fill the cavity — never pack tightly, as the alginate/CMC matrix expands as it gels. Leave a visible tail at the wound opening for retrieval. The high wet tensile strength of the high-G alginate + CMC gel allows the rope to withdraw cleanly as a single piece at dressing change

Application & Use Guide

• Cleanse and assess the wound before each application. Debride if indicated per clinical protocol
• Select the appropriate size and form — sheet for flat/shallow wounds, rope for cavities and tunnels
• Apply dry directly to the wound bed — no hydration required before application
• For deep cavity wounds: loosely pack with rope, leaving a visible tail. Do not compact tightly
• As wound conditions improve and exudate decreases, pre-moisten the wound bed with sterile saline before applying to ensure adequate activation of the alginate and silver complex
• Cover with an appropriate secondary dressing matched to the expected exudate level
• Compression bandaging can be applied over the secondary dressing without compromising dressing performance
• Change frequency is determined by secondary dressing saturation and clinical wound assessment — the up-to-21-day antimicrobial activity means the silver protection persists beyond typical alginate change intervals, but the dressing should still be changed based on exudate management needs
• Removal: Gently lift from the wound bed — high wet tensile strength enables one-piece removal. If the dressing has dried, moisten with sterile saline before removal. Discard after use

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Questions about Melgisorb Ag or any of our silver alginate dressings? Call 1-866-218-0902 — Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm EST