wound irrigation
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Introduction
For prevention of wound infections, irrigation is more effective than cleaning with antibacterial solutions. Use of sterile saline for irrigation has beeb the current standard of care; however, tap water is equivalent or superior to sterile saline for wound irrigation[1].
Benefit/risk
- wound irrigation with tap water vs sterile normal saline
- number needed to treat (NNT)
- 36 to prevent 1 infection
- number needed to treat (NNT)
More general terms
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 The NNT: Tap Water vs. Sterile Saline for Wound Irrigation http://www.thennt.com/nnt/tap-water-for-wound-irrigation/
Fernandez R, Griffiths R Water for wound cleansing. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012 Feb 15;2:CD003861. PMID: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22336796
Moscati RM, Mayrose J, Reardon RF, Janicke DM, Jehle DV. A multicenter comparison of tap water versus sterile saline for wound irrigation. Acad Emerg Med. 2007 May;14(5):404-9. PMID: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17456554
Weiss EA, Oldham G, Lin M, Foster T, Quinn JV. Water is a safe and effective alternative to sterile normal saline for wound irrigation prior to suturing: a prospective, double-blind, randomised, controlled clinical trial. BMJ Open. 2013 Jan 16;3(1). pii: e001504. PMID: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23325896