Table 7.

METHODS OF WOUND CLEANSING

Method	Description	Purpose	Risks
Compress	Use sterile saline or potable water	Astringent action (coagulate protein) to remove surface debris from the wound bed surface	• Compresses can stick to the wound surface or there may be local pain from application or removal
	No cavities/tunneling: gently pressing excess moisture from a moistened gauze/cloth applied to the wound, removed, repeated		• Faulty technique can introduce infection
	For cavities/tunneling: moistened ribbon gauze may be applied similarly by gently packing into tunnel, removed and repeated		• Remember to leave external remnant of gauze packing above the wound to facilitate removal
Irrigation	Steady gentle flow of solution across wound surface when the base of wound is clearly visualized	Hydrate the wound	• Retained irrigation solution may collect in pocket if wound base is not visible
		Remove deeper debris	• Trauma if pressure is too high
		Assist with visual examination of wound base	• Splash back
			• High pressure may drive bacteria into deeper compartments
Soaking	Immersion of wound in solution by applying an overhydrated gauze/cloth to the wound surface (no removal of excess moisture prior to application)	Hydrate the wound	• Disruption of moisture balance
		Allow for physical removal of surface debris	• Maceration of surrounding skin
			• Impaired healing with introduction or redistribution of bacteria from immersion fluid

Adapted from Nicks et al.¹⁸

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