Wound cleansing in the emergency department

Wound cleansing of all wounds to remove debris, thereby, reducing the risk of wound infection and ensuring good patient outcome, has been a mainstay in wound care for decades. There are several different solutions for cleansing available, ranging from sterile saline to special antiseptic solutions. Tap water as a cleansing solution is of growing interest due to its easy, ubiquitous availability of large amounts and low costs. What is the meaning of cleansing and irrigation in the care of wounds and, in particular, what is the role of tap water? A literature search was performed and the results analyzed. Data regarding the importance of wound cleansing is limited and available data are very heterogeneous. Overall, the importance of cleansing wounds is not yet clear. Tap water for cleansing or irrigation in primary wound care does not seem to be associated with higher risks of wound infection compared to normal sterile saline or specific antiseptic solutions. In Germany, the Robert Koch Institute, the governments central scientific institution, recommends avoiding the use of tap water for wound cleansing due to the not certainly excludable risk of wound infection.     «

Wound cleansing of all wounds to remove debris, thereby, reducing the risk of wound infection and ensuring good patient outcome, has been a mainstay in wound care for decades. There are several different solutions for cleansing available, ranging from sterile saline to special antiseptic solutions. Tap water as a cleansing solution is of growing interest due to its easy, ubiquitous availability of large amounts and low costs. What is the meaning of cleansing and irrigation in the care of wounds...     »