THE RETURN OF LOCAL ANTISEPTICS IN SURGERY

With regard to bacterial resistance, the topical use of chemical antis eptics is becoming increasingly important as an alternative to antibio tics. In this paper, a topical antiseptic (Lavasept(R)(1)) which has b een adequately verified by experimental and clinical investigations is presented. Its bactericidal effects are reliable even in the presence of proteins and whole blood; it has high tissue and general tolerance , very low toxicity, does not provoke bacterial resistance, and there is no measureable resorption. The substance is free from iodine, heavy metal salts, PVP, and aldehyde. It is a combination of biguanide (bac tericidal component) and polyethyleneglycol which reduces the surface tension of the biguanide and ensures uniform moistening of the wound. This substance has proven to be a promising auxiliary agent to correct surgery in the treatment of various surgical infections of the soft t issue, fresh and chronic infections of the bone, in war surgery (1), a nd for prophylactic irrigation during operations with a high risk of i nfection (e.g. change of endoprosthesis, repair of open fractures). Th e contraindication, as for any topical antiseptic, is the irrigation o f aseptic joints.