“We
find the use of saline lavage of the wound to be of great value
in achieving primary-intention healing of the wound.
This
is so because saline irrigation helps to decrease the degree
of inevitable wound contamination. Some clinicians favor the
use of povidone-iodine solutions, but even mild solutions irritate
tissue.
We
find that the inclusion of an antiseptic in the lavage solution
is of little value, and physiological saline or a polyionic
is preferable.
The use of local antibiotic solutions, ointments and powders
is to be avoided because they not only irritate wounds but also
favor infection because of destruction of the normal bacterial
flora” 24.
