title: 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.affiliation: Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie, Virologie und Hygiene, Abteilung für Medizinische Mikrobiologie und Krankenhaushygiene, Universität Rostock, Schillingallee 35, D-18055 Rostock [corrected] Germany.
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Fabry
authors.forename: Carola
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Trampenau
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bettag
authors.forename: Alexander E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Handschin
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lettgen
authors.forename: Franz-Xaver
authors.initials: FX
authors.lastname: Huber
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hillmeier
authors.forename: Hans-Jürgen
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kock
mesh_terms: D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D001645:Biguanides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D007552:Isotonic Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000077331:Ringer's Solution; D018461:Soft Tissue Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000472:pathogenicity; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D001645:Biguanides; D004202:Disinfectants; D007552:Isotonic Solutions; C031233:polihexanide; D000077331:Ringer's Solution