Sequential irrigation with common detergents: a promising new method for decontaminating orthopedic wounds.

This investigation sought to determine the capacity of irrigation solutions in decontaminating orthopedic wounds challenged with a polymicrobial inoculum. Rats were divided into two groups, a control group and a treatment group. After creation of a dorsolumbar incision and placement of a wire through the spinous process, rats were inoculated with Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Wounds were irrigated with control or treated solutions. At 2 weeks, cultures were obtained. There were statistically significant differences between groups regarding total number of culture positive sites (P < 0.001), culture-positive animals (P = 0.02), and quantitative cultures (P < 0.02). Sequential irrigation with surfactants lowers bacteria counts recovered from polymicrobial wounds.