Which practice is essential during wound irrigation and cleansing?

Which practice is essential during wound irrigation and cleansing?

• A. Maintain aseptic technique
• B. Use non-sterile saline
• C. Use high-pressure irrigation
• D. Wear no PPE

Answer: (B)

During wound irrigation and cleansing, the goal is to flush out debris and contaminants with a solution that is gentle on tissue. A simple saline solution that is non-irritating and free of antiseptics fits this purpose well because it is isotonic with body fluids and won’t cause additional tissue damage or cytotoxic effects. This allows effective cleansing without harming healing tissue.

High-pressure irrigation can actually injure tissue and push bacteria deeper into the wound, so it's avoided. Wearing appropriate PPE and maintaining aseptic technique are important for infection control, but the choice of cleansing solution itself—using a plain, non-irritating saline—is the key factor being assessed here.