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Water for wound cleansing

  1. Ritin Fernandez*,
  2. Rhonda Griffiths

Editorial Group: Cochrane Wounds Group

Published Online: 12 MAY 2010

Assessed as up-to-date: 14 MAR 2010

DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD003861.pub2

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How to Cite

Fernandez R, Griffiths R. Water for wound cleansing. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2008, Issue 1. Art. No.: CD003861. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD003861.pub2.

Author Information

  1. University of Western Sydney, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Penrith South DC, New South Wales, Australia

*Ritin Fernandez, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Western Sydney, Campbelltown Campus Building 7, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith South DC, New South Wales, 1797, Australia. r.fernandez@uws.edu.au.

Publication History

  1. Publication Status: New search for studies and content updated (no change to conclusions)
  2. Published Online: 12 MAY 2010

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References

References to studies included in this review

  1. References to studies included in this review
  2. References to studies excluded from this review
  3. Additional references
Angeras 1992 {published data only}
  • Angeras MH, Brandberg A, Falk A, Seeman T. Comparison between sterile saline and tap water for the cleaning of acute traumatic soft tissue wounds. European Journal of Surgery 1992;158(6-7):347-50.
  • Falk A, Brandberg Å, Hall-Angerås M, Seeman T. Irrigation of acute traumatic soft tissue wounds - a comparison between sterile saline and tap water. Annales Chirurgiae et Gynaecologiae 1989;78(suppl 204):48.
Bansal 2002 {published data only}
Godinez 2002 {published data only}
  • Godinez FS, Grant-Levy TR, McGuirk TD, Letterle S, Eich M, O'Malley GF. Comparison of normal saline vs tap water for irrigation of minor lacerations in the emergency department. Academic Emergency Medicine 2002;19(5):396-7.
Goldberg 1981 {published data only}
Griffiths 2001 {published data only}
  • Griffiths RD, Fernandez RS, Ussia CA. Is tap water a safe alternative to normal saline for wound irrigation in the community setting?. Journal of Wound Care 2001;10(10):407-11.
Moscati 2007 {published data only}
  • Moscati RM, Mayrose J, Reardon RF, Janicke DM, Jehle DV. A multicentre comparison of tap water versus sterile saline for wound irrigation. Academic Emergency Medicine 2007;14:404-10.
Museru 1989 {published data only}
Neues 2000 {published data only}
Riederer 1997 {published data only}
Tay 1999 {published data only}
  • Tay SK. Is routine procaine spirit application necessary in the care of episiotomy wound?. Singapore Medical Journal 1999;40(9):581-3.
Valente 2003 {published data only}
  • Valente JH, Forti RJ, Freundlich LF, Zandieh SO, Crain EF. Wound irrigation: Tap water or saline?. Emergency Conference. 2001.
  • Valente JH, Forti RJ, Freundlich LF, Zandieh SO, Crain EF. Wound irrigation: Tap water or saline?. Pediatric Research 2001;49(4):78A.
  • Valente JH, Forti RJ, Freundlich LF, Zandieh SO, Crain EF. Wound irrigation in children: saline solution or tap water?. Academic Emergency Medicine 2001;8(5):539.
  • Valente JH, Forti RJ, Freundlich LF, Zandieh SO, Crain EF. Wound irrigation in children: saline solution or tap water?. Annals of Emergency Medicine 2003;41:609-16.

References to studies excluded from this review

  1. References to studies included in this review
  2. References to studies excluded from this review
  3. Additional references
Bansal 1993 {published data only}
  • Bansal NK, Mukul MD. Comparison of topical phenytoin with normal saline in the treatment of chronic trophic ulcers in leprosy. International Journal of Dermatology 1993;32(3):210-13.
    Direct Link:
Bulstrode 1988 {published data only}
  • Bulstrode CJ, Goode AW, Scott PJ. A prospective controlled trial of topical irrigation in the treatment of delayed cutaneous healing in human leg ulcers. Clinical Science 1988;75(6):637-40.
Burke 1998 {published data only}
Chisholm 1992 {published data only}
  • Chisholm CD, Cordel WH, Rogers K, Woods JR. Comparsion of a new pressurized saline canister versus syringe irrigation for laceration cleansing in the emergency department. Annals of Emergency Medicine 1992;21(11):1364-7.
Fraser 1976 {published data only}
Greenway 1999 {published data only}
  • Greenway SE, Filler LE, Greenway FL. Topical insulin in wound healing: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Journal of Wound Care 1999;8(10):526-8.
Johnson 1985 {published data only}
  • Johnson JN, Croton RS, McGlinchey JJ, McLoughlin GA. The effect of povidone-iodine irrigation on perineal wound healing following proctectomy for carcinoma. Journal of Hospital Infection 1985;6(Suppl A):81-6.
King 1984 {published data only}
  • King J, Bulstrode C, Revell P. Irrigating fluid in arthroscopy. Lancet 1984;84(8369):159-60.
Manhold 1976 {published data only}
  • Manhold JH, Manhold EA, Singh S. Animal experimental procedure used in human subjects to compare healing effectiveness of saline, placebo, and a type of commercial oxygenating agent. Journal of Dental Research 1976;55(48):B73.
Medves 1997 {published data only}
  • Medves JM, O'Brien BA. Cleaning solutions and bacterial colonization in promoting healing and early separation of the umbilical cord in healthy newborns. Canadian Journal of Public Health 1997;88(6):380-2.
Patterson 2005 {published data only}
Scondotto 1999 {published data only}
Selim 2000 {published data only}
  • Selim P. Will water do? Cleansing of leg ulcers in the community. ACCNS Journal for Community Nurses 2000;5:11-13.
Selim 2001 {published data only}
Svedman 1983 {published data only}
Sweet 1976 {published data only}
Voorhees 1982 {published data only}
Weiss 2007 {published data only}
  • Weiss E, Lin M, Oldham G. Tap water is equally safe and effective as sterile normal saline for wound irrigation; a double blind, randomized, controlled, prospective clinical trial. Society for Academic Emergency Medicine 2007 Annual Meeting; 2007 May 16-19; Chicago, IL. 2007:S146-47.

Additional references

  1. References to studies included in this review
  2. References to studies excluded from this review
  3. Additional references
AWMA Inc 2002
  • The Australian Wound Management Association Inc. Standards for wound management. Australian Wound Management Association Inc 2002.
Begg 1996
Bergstrom 1994
  • Bergstrom N, Bennett MA, Carlson CE. Pressure Ulcer Treatment. Clinical practice guideline No. 15. Rockville, MD: US: Department of Health and Human services, Public health service, Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, 1994:1-144.
Brennan 1985
  • Brennan SS, Leaper DJ. The effects of antiseptics on the healing wound: A study using the rabbit ear chamber. British Journal of Surgery 1985;72(10):780-2.
    Direct Link:
Fowler 1985
  • Fowler E. Skin care for older adults. Wound cleansing. Journal of Gerontological Nursing 1985;11(8):42-3.
Glide 1992
  • Glide S. Cleaning choices. Nursing Times 1992;88(19):74-8.
Hellewell 1997
  • Hellewell TB, Major DA, Foresman PA, Rodeheaver GT. A cytotoxicity evaluation of antimicrobial and non antimicrobial wound cleansers. Wounds 1997;9(1):15-20.
Higgins 2003
Huxtable 1993
  • Huxtable K. Ritual cleansing. Nursing New Zealand 1993;1(3):14-6.
Jadad 1996
  • Jadad AR, Moore RA, Carroll D, Jenkinson C, Reynolds DJ, Gavaghan DJ, et al. Assessing the quality of reports of randomized clinical trials: is blinding necessary?. Controlled Clinical Trials 1996;17(1):1-12.
Jadad 1998
  • Jadad A. Randomised controlled trials. A user's guide. London: BMJ Books, 1998.
Joanna Briggs 1998
  • Joanna Briggs Institute. Wound dressing. Adelaide: Joanna Briggs Institute Margaret Graham Building , Royal Adelaide Hospital, North Terrace, 1998.
Johnson 1997
  • Johnson M, Grosvenor J, Nguyen Q, Chang S, McVernon S. Validation of the community home nursing groups and cost weights home. Sydney: South Western Sydney Centre for Applied Nursing Research, 1997:A5-2 A5-3.
Lawrence 1997
  • Lawrence JC. Wound irrigation. Journal of Wound Care 1997;6(1):23-6.
Lefebvre 2008
  • Lefebvre C, Manheimer E, Glanville J, on behalf of the Cochrane Information Retrieval Methods Group. Chapter 6: Searching for studies. In: Higgins JPT, Green S (editors). Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions Version 5.0.1 (updated September 2008). The Cochrane Collaboration, 2008. Available from www.cochrane-handbook.org.
Lindholm 1999
  • Lindholm C, Bergsten A, Berglund E. Chronic wounds and nursing care. Journal of Wound Care 1999;8(1):5-10.
Mulrow 1996
  • Mulrow C, Oxman A. How to conduct a Cochrane systematic review. London: BMJ Publishing Group, 1996.
Murphy 1995
  • Murphy A. Wound care. Cleansing solutions. Nursing Times 1995;91(22):78-80.
Philips 1997
  • Philips D, Davey C. Clinical Corner. Wound cleansing versus wound disinfection: a challenging dilemma. Perspectives 1997;21(14):15-6.
Robson 1988
Rodeheaver 1999
  • Rodeheaver GT. Pressure ulcer debridement and cleansing: A review of current literature. Ostomy Wound Management 1999;45(1A ( Suppl)):80S-85S.
SIGN 2010
  • Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN). Search filters. http://www.sign.ac.uk/methodology/filters.html#random (accessed 22 February 2010).
Thomlinson 1987
  • Thomlinson D. To clean or not clean?. Nursing Times 1987;83(9):71-5.
Thompson 1999
Thomson 1998
  • Thomson P. Microbiology of wounds. Journal of Wound Care 1998;7(9):477-8.
Waspe 1996
  • Waspe J. Tissue viability. Treating leg ulcers with high pressure irrigation devices. Nursing Standard 1996;11(6):53-4.
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