Study of effectiveness of local vinegar (Acetic Acid) in infected orthopaedic wound management

Abstract

Wound infection is commonest problem encountered in orthopaedic practice may be due to compound wounds or infection of surgical wound in post operative period. The wound infection is ubiquitous in hospital environment and is a real challenge to treat. The most common pathogen is Pseudomonas aeruginosa involving skin and subcutaneous tissue. Though Staphylococcus Aereus Staph epidermidis are also secondary microorganisms found. Many wound care methods and local disinfectants solutions antibiotics are been used in practice for wound care and its early healing. Inspite of availability of all antimicrobial agents, it is difficult to treat wound infection. In our present study an attempt was made to assess the results of local use of Vinegar (acetic acid) in treating infected wounds, which is economical and easily available for infected wound care.\nMaterials and Methods: A prospective study was done in orthopaedic infected wounds which were not responding to traditional wound care. The infected wounds included in our study were compound fracture wounds and infected surgical wounds. The infected wounds were dressed up with local soaked gauge piece in acetic acid or local infiltration at wound edges with proper debridement.\nResults: Culture sensitivity of discharge from wounds revealed pseudomonas aeruginosa and were resistant to almost all available antibiotics used in our Government hospital. These wounds responded dramatically with use of acetic acid locally. Their hospital stay was reduced.\nConclusion: Infected wound care with local acetic acid is effective in treating compound wounds and surgical wound infections.\n\nKeywords:\xa0Infected wound, Vinegar (Acetic Acid).