CLINICAL research and experience have established the value of bar and liquid soaps containing hexachlorophene in the surgical scrub and in the preoperative preparation of the skin, as shown by Seastone,1 Traub,2 Best3 and others.3a We have continued our experiments, directing our attention to the effect and value of these soaps on tissue surfaces, including wounds and burns. A report will be made on the reaction of various bar and liquid soaps, including those containing hexachlorophene on open wound surfaces.
The treatment of fresh wounds, both clean and contaminated, has been well established and reported by numerous authors, including Baker,4 Bisgard and Baker,5 Altemeier,6 Raine7 and Ryan.8 This treatment should consist of the control of hemorrhage, cleansing of the wound, débridement of devitalized tissues and surgical repair with sutures and immobilization. White bar soap has been accepted as the cleansing agent