Activity of the Antiseptic Polyhexanide Comparing Younger and Elderly Patients

Abstract

The antiseptic polyhexanide was investigated in a placebo-controlled, prospective, and randomized double-blind study on patients with bacteria-contaminated wound types 2 -4 comparing younger (< 65 years old, n=28) and elderly (≥ 65 years old, n=8) patients. The wound dressing with a 0.2 % polyhexanide/macrogolum solution was investigated in comparison to Ringer´s solution on days 0, 2, 4, 8, 11, and 15. Standardized swabs were taken on days 0, 2, 8 and 15 and investigated for microorganisms. An additive wound score for the condition of the wound base and the wound margin was determined. The use of polyhexanide led to a faster improvement of the wound score and a better reduction in microorganisms on the wound surfaces. This could also be observed in the subgroups of patients with different age. The findings suggest, that polyhexanide is also effective for the use in elderly patients.