Investigation of the Clinical Effectiveness of Polyhexanid/Polyhexamethylene Biguanide Wound Dressing in Chronic Cases

Abstract

Polyhexanid/polyhexamethylene biguanide is one of the most used wound antiseptics, with a high tissue compatibility and low cytotoxicity. In the present study, it was aimed to investigate the effectiveness of antimicrobial gel and spray that containing 0.1% PHMB, on wound healing in the treatment of patients who come to our clinic with chronic infected wound formation due to different reasons. The materials of the study consisted of 12 cats and 8 dogs with chronic, infected, ulcerative and suppurative wounds in various parts of the body, which were treated at the Surgery Clinic of SU Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. In the evaluation of the wound bed, the color, depth, shape, size of the wound, type and amount of the exudate, localization of the wound, and wound care conditions were taken into consideration. Surgical or mechanical superficial debridements of the wound were performed initially. Following this procedure, irrigation of the wound area was achieved with 0.9% saline. Protective dressing was applied to the wound area of all patients by applying antimicrobial (Actolind® w Gel, ACTO, Germany) spray containing 0.1% PHMB twice a day, and gel of the same product after 5 minutes. When the wound bed of the cases were evaluated on the 15th day, (100%) granulation and epithelization occurred in all the wounds of 19 patients, and only in one patient epithelization was observed. At the end of the 30th day, it was noted that granulation was completed in all cases except one case and passed to the epithelization stage. In all clinical cases, no complications were encountered during the treatment process.Clinical studies of polyhexanide/polyhexamethylene biguanide are promising. In this study, positive response was obtained in a short time. However, more experimentally controlled clinical and laboratory studies are required in order to improve 0.1% PHMB applications in chronic wound treatments.