New Cleansing Agent Helps Prevent Wound Infection

Chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG), a cationic bisbiguanide, is most commonly found in oral rinses used to combat or prevent gum disease, but more recently has been proven effective in the cleansing and debridement of wounds. The CHG cationic chlorhexidine molecule works by attracting and rapidly destroying negatively charged bacterial cells.

IrriSept^®, by IrriMax Corporation, is the only FDA-approved wound cleansing product that contains CHG (.05% concentration). The new product is proven effective against a variety of bacteria and fungi, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Pseudomonas. The product has been deemed safe by the FDA to treat all types of wounds, following tests for cytotoxicity, skin irritation, and immune response.

After IrriSept is applied to the wound, the clinician or wound care nurse should wait one minute before rinsing it off, enabling CHG to bind with the tissue proteins and bacterial cell walls. At one minute, IrriSept studies showed a 2.83 log reduction of MRSA and a >6.7 log reduction of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The company advises rinsing with IrriRinse to remove any unbound CHG remaining in the wound. IrriSept can be used as an alternative to saline irrigation. To learn more about IrriSept’s indications in wound treatment, visit www.irrisept.com.