Wound cleansing agents are solutions that are used to cleanse wounds prior to the application of a dressing. As such they should not be confused with debriding agents that are generally applied and left in-situ to facilitate removal of slough or necrotic tissue. Most wound-care experts now agree that the routine use of antiseptic solutions has little place in wound management. Antiseptics, particularly those which contain cetrimide, have marked cytotoxic properties and therefore should be avoided unless the wound is contaminated or shows clear evidence of infection. For most applications, a sterile solution of normal saline is to be preferred for routine wound cleansing.
| Cleansing solutions | Cost (p)* |
| Sodium Chloride Solution | |
| Irriclens aerosol 250 ml | 298 |
| Normasol 25 ml sachets | 23 |
| Normasol 100 ml sachets | 72 |
| Sterac 150 ml | 83 |
| Sterijet 25 ml plastic amps | 31 |
| Steripod Blue 25 ml plastic amps | 34 |
| Chlorhexidine solution ** | |
| Sterexidine 0.02%, 150 ml | 83 |
| Steripod pink 20 ml plastic amps | 27 |
| Unisept 25 ml | 23 |
| Unisept 100 ml | 72 |
| Chlorhexidine and cetrimide solution *** | |
| Steripod Yellow 25 ml plastic amps | 27 |
| Tisept sachets 25 ml | 30 |
| Tisept sachets 100 ml | 72 |
| Travasept 500 ml | 74 |