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Currently, there are no generally accepted definitions for wounds at risk of infection. In clinical practice, too many chronic wounds are regarded as being at risk of infection, and therefore many topical antimicrobials – in terms of frequency and duration of use – are applied to wounds. Based on expert discussion and current knowledge, a clinical assessment score was developed. The objective of this wounds at risk (W.A.R.) score is to allow decision-making on the indication for the use of antiseptics on the basis of polihexanide. The proposed clinical classification of W.A.R. shall facilitate the decision for wound antisepsis and allow an appropriate general treatment regimen with the focus on the prevention of wound infection. The W.A.R. score is based on a clinically oriented risk assessment using concrete patient circumstances. The indication for the use of antiseptics results from the addition of differently weighted risk causes, for which points are assigned. Antimicrobial treatment is justified in the case of 3 or more points.

Polihexanide is an antimicrobial compound suitable for clinical use in critically colonized or infected acute and chronic wounds. Its beneficial characteristic is attributable particularly to its broad antimicrobial spectrum, good cell and tissue tolerability, ability to bind to the organic matrix, low risk of contact sensitization, and wound healing promoting effect. In addition, no development of microorganism resistance during polihexanide use has been detected to date, nor does this risk appear imminent. The aim of therapy using polihexanide is to reduce the pathogen burden in a critically colonized or infected acute or chronic wound. An increasing number of articles on the subject of wound antisepsis with polihexanide can be found in the medical literature. However, there is still little published information on the practical use of polihexanide-containing wound antiseptics. The purpose of this review article is to describe the handling and the different possibilities of use of polihexanide-containing preparations, including the currently approved indications, contraindications and reservations. The use of polihexanide is not the only therapeutic option in management of wounds; therefore, priority is also given to prior surgical debridement and clarification of the cause of the underlying disease, including appropriate therapy.

Both BWD+PHMB and AG were effective in reducing pain and bacterial burden. However, that BWD+PHMB was significantly faster and better in removing the critical bacterial load, makes this dressing an attractive therapeutic option to treat critically colonised and locally-infected wounds.