The Effect of Chlorhexidine Gluconate on Microbial Growth in Patients Undergoing Debridement for Diabetic Foot: A Randomized Controlled Study

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the ef- fect of chlorhexidine gluconate on microbial growth in patients under- going debridement for diabetic foot.Material and Methods: The study had a randomized, controlled experimental design. The study sample in- cluded a total of 60 patients. Of 60 patients, 30 were randomly assigned into the experimental group and 30 were randomly assigned into the control group. In the experimental group, the surgical site was washed with chlorhexidine gluconate 0.05% before and after debridement in addition to routine cleaning with povidone iodine before debridement. In the control group, all the steps of the procedure performed in the ex- perimental group were followed except for using chlorhexidine glu- conate 0.05%. Results: The experimental and control groups were found to be similar in terms of descriptive characteristics and diabetes- related features. There was no difference in the presence of microor- ganisms before debridement between the experimental and control groups, but fewer species were isolated from the experimental group after debridement. The mean number of isolated species in the experi- mental group was 1.66±0.60 and 0.60±0.67 before and after debride- ment respectively. The mean number of isolated species in the control group was 1.06±0.58 and 1.10±0.75 before and after debridement re- spectively. Conclusion: It can be concluded that chlorhexidine glu- conate and povidone iodine used before debridement are effective in reduction of the number of microbial species after debridement in pa- tients with diabetic foot.