“The effect of Cadexomer iodine on pain and its ease of application and removal gave high acceptance by patients and nurses” ¹⁷

Considering an Appropriate Topical Antimicrobial Treatment
The importance of wound infections, in both economic and human terms, should not be underestimated. Practitioners need to know how to recognize and manage the signs and consequences of clinically infected wounds. The key principles for the management of a patient with a wound infection can be summarized as follows ¹⁵

• Treat the patient holistically
• Recognize the signs of inflammation/increased bacterial burden/clinical infection
• Be able to take 'reliable' wound swabs
• Be able to interpret culture reports
• Treat the infection - causative organism(s)
• Consider antibiotic sensitivities
• Consider which wound management products are suitable and appropriate*
• Minimize the risk of cross - infection
• Reduce the risk of any complications
• Educate the patient and his/her family and carers

*Topical antimicrobials are used to reduce bio-burden; therefore, the choice has to be related to the identity of the causative organisms, assessed either through bacterial culture or clinical judgement. The choice of topical agent should also include an awareness of their potential to induce sensitisation.

• Iodine sensitivity
• Hashimoto's thyroiditis
• Non-toxic nodular goiter
• Grave's Disease
• Pregnant or lactating women