Evaluation of the efficacy and tolerability of a solution containing propyl betaine and polihexanide for wound irrigation.

Wound cleansing represents a fundamental step in chronic wound management. Several investigations in recent years have led to a refinement of the wound cleansing protocol in order to obtain a better control of the bacterial burden during wound bed preparation and to avoid further cell and tissue damage. The aim of the present randomized controlled trial was to investigate the effects of a wound cleansing solution containing polihexanide and betaine in venous leg ulcers by means of clinical and instrumental assessment. A portable device was used on the wound bed to assess surface pH, which has been shown to be one of the most useful non-invasive biophysical parameters in order to correlate the level of bacterial burden in different types of chronic wounds. Baseline pH on the wound surface (median range) was initially 8.9, and after 4 weeks of cleansing treatment and moist wound dressing was reduced and stable at 7.0 in the group treated with active cleanser. The pH value was significantly lower (p < 0.05) in this group compared to the control group at the end of the study. The treatment with the solution containing polihexanide and betaine was well tolerated by the patients and was found useful in the absorption of wound odours.