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Effective wound care

From biofilm to better healing: Reducing the burden of chronic wounds

While biofilm on wounds remains a critical barrier to recovery[1], reducing the burden of wound infection, implementing prevention strategies, and accelerating wound healing are crucial components of clinical practice.[2]

Today, effective and modern wound care means more than just targeting biofilm prevention and treatment. ​It means delivering measurable outcomes: fewer dressing changes, less pain, and faster return to function. As part of this, understanding how to optimally conduct therapeutic wound cleansing is essential to improving patient care.[3]

A female nurse is sitting in front of a female patient, smiling.​ A Prontosan Wound Irrigation bottle is visible in the foreground, accompanied by the text: My patients appreciate it – and so do I. Prontosan.

Reducing infection

risk is​ crucial for the prevention of complications​ and the promotion of faster wound healing.[4,5]

Prontosan® helps lower

the risk of infections, providing a safer healing environment for patients.[6-9]

 Icon depicting various microbes alongside a downward- pointing arrow, indicating a reduction in bacterial load.

From 40% to 3% reduction of infection.[7]

How is Prontosan® better than saline?


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Reducing the frequency

of dressing changes increases patient comfort and save costs.[10,11]

The use of Prontosan® 

can lead to a reduction in the frequency of dressing changes, making wound management more convenient.[12]

The icon shows a bar chart with five vertical bars, arranged in descending order from left to right

55% reduction in dressing changes.[12]

Faster recovery times 

allow patients to return to their daily activities sooner, enhancing overall well-being.

Studies show 

that chronic wounds treated with Prontosan®  heal significantly faster than with saline alone.[7,13,14,15]

The icon shows a calendar with a grid of squares representing individual days. One of the squares — located in the middle row — contains a star

4 weeks faster healing times.[6]

Managing pain

and odor improves patient comfort and quality of life.

Prontosan® helps

reduces wound-related pain[16-19] and odor[16], improving patient mobility and socializing.

Maintaining a clean wound

is vital for preventing infections and promoting healthy tissue regeneration.

Prontosan® removes

debris, slough, and biofilm, ensuring a clean wound bed which is essential for healing[12,13,16,17,18,20].

Cost-effective treatments 

are essential for healthcare systems to manage resources efficiently.

Prontosan® helps reduce 

overall healthcare expenses by preventing infections and shortening healing times.[21,22] 

The icon shows three stacks of coins arranged in descending order from left to right.

Cost reduction when compared to saline.[21]

Experience the benefits of Prontosan® in your practice – discover Prontosan® today.


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A woman in the foreground, dressed in a dark blue shirt and wearing an identification badge on a lanyard, is standing in a hallway, holding and looking at a tablet. In the background, another person is visible, dressed in medical attire.

Did you know?

Treatment with Prontosan® ​is more cost-effective than saline alone?[21]
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Colorful scientific illustration showing biofilm cells​

Betaine effect

The betaine surfactant embeds its​ hydrophobic tail into the biofilm.

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Biofilm removal

The polar heads of betaine repel each other, disrupting and breaking up the biofilm structure.

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Polyhexanide effect

Once exposed, the polyhexanide (PHMB) ​preservative can deliver a secondary effect against bacteria.

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Optimal wound care

The three components of optimal wound care involve cleansing, debridement and wound dressings that help stimulate the wound bed in preparation for healing[25].

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Cleanse

Prontosan® Wound Irrigation Solution helps remove barriers to wound healing.​

For rinsing, cleansing, moistening and decontamination of wounds and burns.

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Prevent

Prontosan® Wound Gel and Gel X for long-lasting cleansing between dressing changes, moistening and decontamination of large surface areas or deep wounds cleansing.​

Formulated with a balanced osmolality for moisture retention.

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Debride​

Prontosan® Debridement Pad removes coatings, dead cells, and debris using advanced microfiber technology.​

For acute and chronic wounds, as well as burns requiring debridement.

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Take the first step toward better healing – Discover Prontosan® today!​

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References

  1. Percival, S. L. (2016). Importance of biofilm formation in surgical infection. Journal of Hospital Infection, 92(3), 222–227. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2015.07.009​
  2. Millán-Reyes, M.J.; Afanador-Restrepo, D.F.; Carcelén-Fraile, M.d.C.; Aibar-Almazán, A.; Sánchez-Alcalá, M.; Cano-Sánchez, J.; Mesas-Aróstegui, M.A.; Castellote-Caballero, Y. Reducing Infections and Improving Healing in Complex Wounds: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14, 3237. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14093237[1](https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/14/9/3237)​
  3. International Wound Infection Institute (IWII) Therapeutic wound and skin cleansing: Clinical evidence and recommendations. Wounds International 2025.​
  4. International Wound Infection Institute. Wound Infection in Clinical Practice: Principles of Best Practice. Wounds International; 2022.​
  5. Phillips K. Sustaining Improved Patient Outcomes in the Reduction of Wound Infections. Wounds UK; 2025.​
  6. Andriessen AE, Eberlein T. Assessment of a wound cleansing solution in the treatment of problem wounds. Wounds. 2008;20(6):171-5.​
  7. Möller A, Kaehn K, Nolte A. Erfahrungen mit dem Einsatz polihexanidhaltiger Wundprodukte bei der Versorgung chronischer Wunden - Ergebnisse einer systematischen retrospektiven Untersuchung an 953 Patienten [Experiences in using polyhexanide containing wound products in the management of chronic wounds – results of a methodical and retrospective analysis of 953 cases.]. Wund Management. 2008:111-7. In German.​
  8. Ciprandi G, Ramsay S, Budkevich L, Strack A, van Capellen P, Marathovouniotis N. A retrospective systematic data review on the use of a polihexanide-containing product on burns in children. J Tissue Viability. 2018;27(4):244-8.​
  9. Kiefer J, Harati K, Müller-Seubert W, Fischer S, Ziegler B, Behr B, Gille J, Kneser U, Lehnhardt M, Daigeler A, Dragu A. Efficacy of a Gel Containing Polihexanide and Betaine in Deep Partial and Full Thickness Burns Requiring Split-thickness Skin Grafts: A Noncomparative Clinical Study. J Burn Care Res. 2018 Aug 17;39(5):685-693.​
  10. Upton D, Solowiej K. Painful Dressing Changes for Chronic Wounds: Assessment and Management. Journal of Wound Care; 2012 .​
  11. Kirkcaldy AJ, Wilson M, Cooper R, Baxter SK, Campbell F. Strategies for Reducing Pain at Dressing Change in Chronic Wounds: Protocol for a Mapping Review. BMJ Open; 2023.​
  12. Atkin L, et al. Wound bed preparation: a case series using polyhexanide and betaine solution and gel-a UK perspective. J Wound Care. 2020 Jul 2;29(7):380-386.​
  13. Bellingeri A, Falciani F, Traspedini P, Moscatelli A, Russo A, Tino G, Chiari P, Peghetti A. Effect of a wound cleansing solution on wound bed preparation and inflammation in chronic wounds: a single-blind RCT. J Wound Care. 2016 Mar;25(3):160, 162-6, 168.​
  14. Valenzuela AR, Perucho NS. The effectiveness of a 0.1% polyhexanide gel. Rev Enferm. 2008;31(4):7-12.​
  15. Eberlein T. Expert assessment: Expert assessment on the benefits of systematic application of Prontosan® solution in wound treatment with particular focus on cost-efficiency when compared to current standard treatment (saline/Ringer). 2006.​
  16. Romanelli M, Dini V, Barbanera S, Bertone MS. Evaluation of the efficacy and tolerability of a solution containing propyl betaine and polihexanide for wound irrigation. Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2010;23 Suppl:41-4. doi: 10.1159/000318266. Epub 2010 Sep 8.​
  17. Durante CM, Greco A, Sidoli O, Maino C, Gallarini A, Ciprandi G. Evaluation of the effectiveness of a polyhexanide and propyl betaine-based gel in the treatment of chronic wounds. Minerva Chir. 2014 Oct;69(5):283-92​
  18. Horrocks A. Prontosan wound irrigation and gel: management of chronic wounds. Br J Nurs. 2006 Dec 14-2007 Jan 10;15(22):1222, 1224-8.​
  19. Ricci E. Cleansing versus tailored deep debridement, a fresh approach to wound cleansing: an Italian experience. J Wound Care. 2018 Aug 2;27(8):512-518.​
  20. Bradbury S, Fletcher J. Prontosan made easy. Wounds international. 2011;2(2):1-6.​
  21. Cooper DM, Bojke C, Ghosh P. Cost-Effectiveness of PHMB & betaine wound bed preparation compared with standard care in venous leg ulcers: A cost-utility analysis in the United Kingdom. J Tissue Viability. 2023 May;32(2):262-269.​
  22. Gansen F, Hepworth C; Richardson S; Rice C; Davidson J, Frei T; Barth C. Polihexanide and Betaine (PSGX) Containing Solution Versus Saline for the Treatment of Leg Ulcers: A Comparative Cost Analysis Using Real-World Data From England. Value in Health (2024) 27:12 Supplement (S63-S64). Date of Publication: 1 Dec 2024, ISPOR.​
  23. Oropallo, A., Rao, A. S., Del Pin, C., Ranire-Maguire, M., & Mathew, A. (2024). An objective comparative study of non-surgical cleansing techniques and cleanser types in bacterial burden management. International wound journal, 21(2), e14730.​
  24. Davis SC, Harding A, Gil J, Parajon F, Valdes J, Solis M, Higa A. Effectiveness of a polyhexanide irrigation solution on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus biofilms in a porcine wound model. Int Wound J. 2017;14(6):937-44.​
  25. International Wound Infection Institute (IWII) Therapeutic wound and skin cleansing: Clinical evidence and recommendations. Wounds International 2025.