Wound cleansing method
An aqueous composition with a higher-than-neutral pH includes a significant amount of one or more surfactants and large amounts of osmotically active solutes. This composition, as well as an acidic counterpart and solid materials, can be used in a variety of applications such as wound care, oral care, medical equipment reprocessing, healthcare acquired infection and implant treatment.
1. A method for cleansing a surgical wound consisting of, prior to closure, introducing to said wound a liquid having a pH of from 2 to 4 and total solute concentration of from 1.8 to 2.8 Osm/L, said liquid having a solute component that consists of one or more organic acids, at least one salt of said one or more organic acids, and from 0.9 to 1.7 g/L cationic surfactant.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein said cationic surfactant comprises benzalkonium chloride.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein said cationic surfactant is benzalkonium chloride.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein said one or more organic acids include citric acid.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein said at least one salt includes a salt of citric acid.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein said one or more organic acids is citric acid.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein said one or more organic acids include acetic acid.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein said at least one salt includes a salt of acetic acid.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein said one or more organic acids is acetic acid.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein the lower limit of said total solute concentration in said liquid is 2 Osm/L.