Comparison of the efficiency of polyhexanide biguanide, argon cold plasma and saline sludge for the decontamination of dog bites

Objective: To evaluate the bacterial contamination rate and to compare the efficacy of polyhexanide, cold argon plasma and saline at reducing bacterial bio-burden in dog bite wounds. Material and methods: Dogs with bite-wound injuries were included when surgical debridement was pursued with subsequent treatment using either polyhexanide-biguanide lavage (A), cold argon plasma treatment (B) or saline lavage (C). Culture swabs were taken after debridement as well as after lavage or argon treatment. Statistical analysis was performed using the chi-square test. Results:A total of 40 dogs were enrolled in the study (A: n = 12; B: n = 10; C: n = 18). The majority of injuries were minor and 87.5% of patients had positive bacterial culture results pre-lavage, with 19.8% of isolates classified as multidrug resistant. A reduction in wound bioburden was achieved in 8/12 patients in group A, 5/10 patients in group B and 14/18 patients in group C. Complete decontamination was achieved in 5/12 patients in group A, 2/10 in group B and 9/18 in group C. None of these differences were statistically significant nor associated with the development of complications. Conclusion: No statistically significant differences were detected between the treatment groups; however, the cold argon plasma treatment provided the least effective decontamination.