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Algisite M Calcium Alginate Dressings by Smith & Nephew

When a wound is producing significant amounts of fluid, managing that exudate properly is one of the most important things a dressing can do. Too much moisture left in the wound causes maceration and delays healing. Too little and the wound dries out, forming eschar and slowing the healing process. Algisite M is a fast-gelling calcium alginate dressing that forms a hydrophilic gel when in contact with exudate, helping to create and maintain a moist wound environment. 
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The calcium-alginate composition is what makes Algisite M highly absorbent, efficiently managing wound exudate by both absorbing and retaining it within the gel, preventing leakage and minimising the potential for maceration. The result is a wound environment that supports healing without the clinician needing to change the dressing more frequently than necessary.

What Is Algisite M?

Algisite M is made of fast-gelling, high mannuronic acid fibres from calcium alginate, which is extracted and purified from a natural, renewable source — seaweed. That composition gives the dressing several specific clinical properties that separate it from standard gauze or simple foam dressings.

Key features include fast-gelling high mannuronic acid fibres, minimal fibre shed construction, high integrity when wet, and a soft, conformable structure. The minimal fibre shed property is worth noting specifically — fibre-based alginates can release fibres when handled, but the advanced bonding technique used in Algisite M greatly reduces the chance of this occurring, which reduces the risk of fibres being left in the wound bed during dressing changes.

The dressing conforms to wound contours, is easy to remove, and its fast-gelling high mannuronic acid fibers provide consistent performance across a range of wound types.

Clinical Indications

Algisite M is indicated for the management of full and partial thickness wounds with moderate to heavy exudate, and which may also be prone to minor bleeding, including pressure ulcers, leg ulcers, surgical wounds, and diabetic foot ulcers. It can also be used on lacerations and abrasions with moderate exudate.

The dressing helps prevent eschar formation and promotes wound contraction. Its haemostatic properties make it appropriate for wounds that bleed lightly during dressing changes — the calcium ions in the alginate activate the clotting cascade, helping to control minor wound bleeding.

Algisite M is listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) in Australia across all three flat sheet sizes, making it accessible for eligible patients through the subsidised wound dressing programme.

The rope format is specifically indicated for cavity wounds, sinuses, and undermined wounds where a flat dressing cannot make sufficient contact with the wound bed to absorb exudate effectively.

How Algisite M Works

The mechanism is straightforward once you understand calcium alginate chemistry. When the dressing contacts wound exudate, calcium ions in the alginate fibres exchange with sodium ions in the exudate. This ion exchange triggers the fibres to swell and form a soft, cohesive gel that fills the wound surface. The gel absorbs and retains excess moisture, keeping the wound surface moist without becoming waterlogged.

Algisite M can absorb up to 10 times its own weight in exudate, which allows the dressing to remain in the wound for up to 7 days depending on the nature of the wound and the volume of exudate produced. That extended wear time is clinically significant — frequent dressing changes disrupt the wound healing environment and increase the risk of trauma to the wound bed and surrounding tissue. A dressing that performs for longer between changes reduces that disruption.

At removal, the gel structure means the dressing lifts away from the wound cleanly. Algisite M is sterile and non-adherent, which minimises trauma during dressing changes. For heavily saturated dressings, irrigation with saline before removal makes the process easier and more comfortable for the patient.

Why Buy Algisite M from Platinum Health?

We stock Algisite M across the full size range — 5cm x 5cm, 10cm x 10cm, 15cm x 20cm, and the 2cm x 30cm rope — so you’re not sourcing different sizes from different suppliers. Fast nationwide delivery, competitive pricing, and a price match guarantee. Bulk ordering is available for aged care facilities, hospitals, and community nursing services through APEX, our B2B platform. Call us on 1300 604 499 for volume pricing and ongoing supply arrangements.