title: [Patient advice].
abstract: In wound care, knowing what to do is as important as knowing what not to do. The first step is to evaluate the severity of the lesion and to know whether it is necessary to attend a health center or not. If the wound is simple, the recommended course of action is cleansing with serum or water after washing one's hands, followed by wound disinfection with the most appropriate antiseptic. Antiseptics not should be used for wound cleansing (physiological serum or tap water should be used) or for wound healing with granulation tissue. Equally, antiseptics should not be used in the ear or near the eyes; if there is accidental application, the eye should be washed in abundant water. Povidone iodine should not be used in pregnant women, nor should iodine preparations be used in neonates, in patients with thyroid alterations or in those allergic to iodine. Currently, merbromine/mercurochrome is not used because of its mercury content. Before an antiseptic is applied, all inorganic residues (foreign bodies) and dead tissue should be removed; detritus, slough, purulent exudate, scabs… This will aid healing and the action of antiseptics, since they become inactive in the presence of organic material.
authors.affiliation: Médico de Familia, Unidad de Gestión Clínica Amante Laffon, Distrito Sanitario de Atención Primaria, Sevilla, España.
authors.forename: M Eulalia
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Lucio-Villegas Menéndez
authors.affiliation: Médico de Familia, EOXI de Pontevedra e O Salnés, Pontevedra, España.
authors.forename: Laura López
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: González
authors.affiliation: Médico de Familia, Centro de Salud Renedo de Esgueva, Valladolid Rural I, Valladolid, España. Sacyl-Castilla y León.
authors.forename: M Isabel
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Gutiérrez Pérez
authors.affiliation: Enfermera, Centro de Atención Primaria de Sant Just Desvern, Barcelona, España. Grupo de Profilaxis en Enfermedades Infecciosas de la CAMFIC.
authors.forename: Natalia Aresté
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Lluch
authors.affiliation: Médico de Familia, Coordinadora del Grupo de Profilaxis en Enfermedades Infecciosas de la CAMFIC.
authors.forename: M Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Morató Agustí
authors.affiliation: Médico de Familia, PAC de Cambados, EOXI de Pontevedra e O Salnés, Pontevedra, España. Electronic address: santiago.perez.cachafeiro@sergas.es.
authors.forename: Santiago Pérez
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Cachafeiro
mesh_terms: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002056:Burns / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012867:Skin / Q000293:injuries / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local
keywords: Advice; Antiseptics; Antisépticos; Consejos; Heridas; Wounds