Burn wound cleansing - a myth or a scientific practice

Burn wound cleansing is an integral step in every wound management protocol. Yet a lot of this practice is based on myth rather than real scientific basis. The literature is poor in scientific papers comparing the outcome of patients who underwent wound cleansing to those who did not. A survey form was designed by the Mediterranean Council for Burns and Fire Disasters - MBC and sent by e-mail to its members as well as members of the European Burn Association and other burn specialists, and 76 replies were received. Responses showed wide inconsistencies in the methods of burn wound cleansing, the solutions used for cleansing, the added antiseptics or detergents used, and the frequency of cleansing. Wound cleansing and dressing is a process that should be based on evidence and not on a ritualistic behaviour or a personal preference. In order to optimize burn wound care and promote optimal healing, more clinical evidence-based studies are needed to confirm or negate the positive or negative effects of any topical solution currently in use for burn wound cleansing.