The treatment of contaminated wounds in order to prevent infection has not varied remarkably for several decades. Although much effort has been directed towards finding a more satisfactory treatment, these efforts have generally resulted in failure or in minimal improvement.
Studies at this Institute have shown that pressure pulsating water lavage can remove debris and bacteria more effectively than the conventional irrigating syringe, it is well tolerated by tissues, does not cause bacteremia and, when used
with certain antibiotics, is an effective means of wound management.1-8 The use of various antibiotics and detergents as topical applications or in irrigating solutions has also been tested elsewhere.9-20 Studies on the effect of soaps on wound healing are contradictory,21,22 but certain antiseptic agents have been shown to provide protection against infection.8,23
The present investigation is one of a series of experiments on the management of contaminated wounds with the pulsed water jet devices and represents a study in which vancomycin, streptomycin and tetracycline were incorporated in the water jets.
