Dakin's solution in the treatment of severe diabetic foot infections. Issue 2 (12th November 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Duarte, Bruno; Formiga, Ana; Neves, José
• Is Part Of: International wound journal. Volume 17:Issue 2(2020)
• Page Start: 277
• Page End: 284
• Publication Date: 2019-11-12
• Subjects: amputation -- Dakin's solution -- diabetes complication -- diabetic foot -- diabetic foot ulcer; Wounds and injuries -- Treatment -- Periodicals; Wounds and injuries -- Periodicals; Wound healing -- Periodicals; 617.1005
• DOI: 10.1111/iwj.13268
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1742-4801

Abstract

Abstract: Acute necrotising diabetic foot (DF) infections are common, costly, and do not infrequently result in debilitating major lower‐extremity amputations. Dakin's solution is a long‐standing topical antiseptic that has shown benefit in this clinical setting, but its use is undermined by a presumed risk of cytotoxicity. In this single‐centre case series, we retrospectively evaluated 24 patients with severe necrotising DF infections treated with a cyclical instillation of Dakin's solution at a referral multidisciplinary DF unit. Most patients achieved favourable outcomes in infection control and limb salvage, with only one patient (4.2%) requiring a major (at or above‐the‐ankle) amputation. The mean time to complete or near‐complete wound granulation was 5.4 weeks. Of the 12 patients who completed 12 or more months of longitudinal follow up, only 2 (12.2%) had a wound recurrence. In this severe DF infection patient cohort, Dakin's solution led to a clinically meaningful improvement. No remarkable impairment in the wound‐healing process was observed.