Topical antimicrobial therapy of chronic wounds healing by secondary intention using iodine products

All open wounds healing by secondary intention are contaminated by bacteria and in chronic wounds this can progress through colonisation to invasive infection. Iodine products reduce bacterial load and are active against most species of micro-organisms, and certainly those encountered in chronic wound care. This review evaluates the use of iodine products in chronic wound care including povidone-iodine solutions and cadexomer iodine. Antiseptics containing iodine are relatively cheap, resistance is unknown and concerns about systemic toxicity are probably overstated. More widespread use of these agents as topical anti-microbials in chronic wound care should be considered to reduce the need for systemic antibiotics when colonisation has progressed to invasive infection with systemic signs.

Risk factors for surgical infection

In the last century remarkable advances have been made in surgery, associated with the lowest recorded rates of infection or sepsis. Many surgical practices are time honoured but have little scientific basis to prevent postoperative infection whereas some local and systemic factors are well recognized and can be modified to lower infection risks. Surgical skill is not easily measurable but shorter operations in experienced hands leaving the minimum of tissue damage, haematoma or dead space have the lowest infection rates in general surgery: < 2% in clean and < 10% in contaminated operations. Adequate surgical scrub, appropriate suture materials and antibiotic prophylaxis, perioperative correction of dehydration and poor nutrition are examples of effective therapy which can be conformed to by all surgeons. Other factors, such as the use of wound guards, drains and surgical dressings are less easy to estimate for effectiveness or be sure that they could be changed or left out of surgical ritual.