ANTIMICROBIAL FIBRES

Described is a method of manufacturing carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) fibres containing an antimicrobial, the fibres being suitable for use in the preparation of wound dressings, wherein the antimicrobial is selected from the group consisting of a biguanide, a biguanide derivative, octenidine, taurolidine, and a combination of two or more thereof, the method comprising, submerging CMC fibres comprising at least 95 wt % carboxymethylcellulose on a dry weight basis in a treatment solution for a duration adequate to provide the CMC fibres containing an antimicrobial, the treatment solution comprising the antimicrobial and at least 70 wt % of a water-miscible organic solvent selected from C1-C4 alkanols, C3-C5 ketones, and a combination of two or more thereof. Anti-microbial CMC fibres obtained by the methods and wound dressings containing such fibres are also described.