Plato said: “Necessity is the mother of invention.’” In healthcare it is no different; as clinicians come across challenges they look for creative ways to solve the problems. During 2009–2010, several studies and articles started to raise questions around the use of antimicrobials, antiseptics and, specifically, silver dressings in the management of wounds. The VULCAN study (Michaels et al, 2009) had identified how the incorrect and long-term use of silver did not affect healing rates in non-infected venous leg ulcers. While many debated the details and validity of the use of silver dressings for these wounds (White and Kingsley, 2010; Leaper and Harding, 2010), it was clear that correct diagnosis and treatment of critical colonisation and local infection needed to be improved (Cutting et al, 2005; Vowden and Cooper, 2006; Cooper, 2006; Cutting, 2008).