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. 2020 Apr;17(2):277-284.
doi: 10.1111/iwj.13268. Epub 2019 Nov 12.

Dakin's solution in the treatment of severe diabetic foot infections

Bruno Duarte  1 , Ana Formiga  2 , José Neves  2
Affiliations

Dakin's solution in the treatment of severe diabetic foot infections

Bruno Duarte et al. Int Wound J. 2020 Apr.

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.

Keywords: Dakin's solution; amputation; diabetes complication; diabetic foot; diabetic foot ulcer.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Wounds treated with Dakin's solution (before/after)
Figure 2
Figure 2
Wounds treated with Dakin's solution (before/after)
Figure 3
Figure 3
Dakin's solution (DS) instillation system. Black arrow pointing to the two connectors which are left externally. Periodic instillation of DD is thus easily performed without the need to manipulate the dressing
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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