Dakin's Solution in the Treatment of Severe Diabetic Foot Infections

Duarte, B; Formiga, A; Neves, J

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.17/4045

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Authors

Duarte, B

Formiga, A

Neves, J

Abstract(s)

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.

Keywords

HSAC DER HCC CIR Adult Aged Administration, Topical Female Aged, 80 and over Middle Aged Male Diabetic Foot / complications* Diabetic Foot / drug therapy Disinfectants / therapeutic use Humans Follow-Up Studies Limb Salvage / methods* Retrospective Studies Severity of Illness Index Sodium Hypochlorite / therapeutic use* Treatment Outcome Wound Healing / drug effects* Wound Infection / diagnosis Wound Infection / drug therapy* Wound Infection / etiology