The Effect Of Wound Irrigation With Irrisept™ Delivery System On Abscess Healing In Patients Presenting To The Emergency Department

THE EFFECT OF WOUND IRRIGATION WITH IRRISEPT™ Delivery System ON ABSCESS HEALING IN PATIENTS PRESENTING TO THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT

The purpose of this study is to determine if wound cleansing and irrigation using the IRRISEPT Chlorhexidine Gluconate(CHG)solution, applying a given volume with a pressurized stream, will improve the outcome for infected abscesses in patients that present in the emergency department.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Immunocompetent individuals 12 years of age or older with an uncomplicated abscess
• Patient must be able to answer questions and be medically stable as defined by the Emergency Department physician
• Patient must voluntarily participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria:Patients with any of the following are excluded:

• Currently receiving antibiotics or received antibiotics within last 72 hours
• Evidence of systemic infection (fever, aches, chills, nausea)
• Requires admission to the hospital for infection or for any other reason(s)
• Abscess caused by a human or animal bite
• Prior history of hypersensitivity or allergy to Chlorhexidine Gluconate (CHG)
• Immunodeficiency (Examples: HIV Positive, Crohns Disease, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Addison's disease, psoriasis, splenectomy, leukemia, cancer on chemotherapy)
• Currently on any immune-modifying medication (Examples: prednisone, antivirals)
• History of chronic skin infection (3 or more in the past year)
• Chronic medical problem, for example end-stage heart, liver, kidney, or lung disease, diabetes mellitus, peripheral vascular disease, history of organ transplant
• Mental illness including but not limited to substance abuse, dementia, schizophrenia or mentally handicapped or challenged
• Incarcerated
• Patient is pregnant or thinks she may be pregnant