Introduction: Despite the use of modern antibiotics as well as complex perioperative, intraoperative and postoperative prophylactic measures, the rate of surgical site infections (SSI) could not be significantly reduced. The introduction of biocompatible antiseptic drugs with a high microbiocidal effect provided a successful alternative for infection prevention and therapy, particularly in a time of increasing occurrence of multi-drug resistant pathogens. Hence, questions about the risk-benefit ratio of antiseptic wound irrigation solutions, the prophylactic use of wound irrigation solutions for the reduction of SSI and the effect of negative pressure wound therapy combined with instillation (NPWTi) need to be answered.
Method: Against the background of our own experiences with the use of antiseptic wound irrigation solutions, a literature analysis (e.g. computer-supported MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane database research as of April 2017) was performed.
Results: Antiseptic fluids can be used both prophylactically and therapeutically, in acute and chronic, clean, contaminated and infected wounds to reduce the posttraumatic and postoperative wound infection rates. The antiseptic solutions that are commonly used in orthopedic and trauma surgery (e.g. PVP-iodine, octenidine, polyhexanide, sodium hypochlorite/hypochlorous acid and acetic acid), have in common that no development of resistance has so far been shown and that when the contraindications are taken into account, the antiseptic effect can develop without any clinically significant local and systemic side effects. As a rule the biocompatibility index is higher than 1 for the substances mentioned. In addition, they show an antiseptic effect against biofilms and multi-drug resistant pathogens. These antiseptic solutions can also be used for NPWTi with some limitations for octenidine.
Conclusion: As the basic equipment in trauma surgery, a selection of three different antiseptic wound irrigation solutions for the reduction of the rates of posttraumatic and SSI can be recommended. The use of antiseptics should be reviewed on an ongoing basis in the daily clinical routine and particular attention should be paid to unwanted effects in the course of the healing process. After application of 7-14 days, the indications for continuing the use of the antiseptic solutions must be carefully re-evaluated.
Keywords: Antiseptics Instillation; Prophylaxis; Surgical site infection; Vacuum assisted wound closure; Wound irrigation.