Bacterial decontamination of surgical wounds treated with Lavasept.

Abstract

In a prospective randomized controlled double-blind study in 50 acutely injured patients, bacterially contaminated type 2-4 soft tissue wounds were treated with moist dressings of 0.2% Lavasept (fractionated polyhexamethylenbiguanide and macrogolum 4000) solution (n=28) in comparison with Ringer solution (n=22). Standardized swabs were taken on days 0, 2, 8 and 15 and investigated for microorganisms. For a quantitative evaluation, the number of colony forming units (CFU) was determined by a serial dilution technique. The tissue compatibility and anti-inflammatory effect were rated on a scale of 0 (=bad) to 3 (=very good). The most frequently found microorganism was Staphylococcus aureus, which was isolated from 13 wounds. Use of Lavasept led to a faster and significant reduction in microorganisms on the wound surfaces. The number of CFU per wound remained constant or decreased, in contrast to the wounds treated with Ringer solution. This was true for both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. There was no evidence of impaired wound healing in either group. The anti-inflammatory effect and the tissue compatibility of Lavasept were rated significantly better than that of Ringer solution. It is concluded that Lavasept combines antiseptic action with good tissue compatibility.

• Authors: Werner Fabry, Carola Trampenau, Christian Bettag, Alexander E Handschin, Bernhard Lettgen, Franz-Xaver Huber, Joachim Hillmeier, Hans-Jürgen Kock
• Journal: International journal of hygiene and environmental health (Int J Hyg Environ Health) Vol. 209 Issue 6 Pg. 567-73 (Nov 2006) ISSN: 1438-4639 [Print] Germany
• PMID: 16872896 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Biguanides
• Disinfectants
• Isotonic Solutions
• polihexanide
• Ringer's Solution

Topics

• Bacterial Infections (drug therapy, microbiology)
• Biguanides (administration & dosage)
• Colony Count, Microbial
• Disinfectants (administration & dosage)
• Double-Blind Method
• Gram-Negative Bacteria (drug effects, growth & development, pathogenicity)
• Gram-Positive Bacteria (drug effects, growth & development, pathogenicity)
• Humans
• Isotonic Solutions (administration & dosage)
• Ringer's Solution
• Soft Tissue Infections (drug therapy, microbiology)
• Staphylococcus aureus (drug effects, growth & development, pathogenicity)
• Surgical Wound Infection (drug therapy, microbiology)
• Treatment Outcome
• Wound Healing