02 June 2021

Volume 12 | Issue 5

ISSN (Print): 2044-0065

ISSN (Online): 2052-2959

The importance of lavage in wound care

Lavage is fundamental in breaking down bacterial biofilms, which occur when a group of microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses) attach themselves to a surface to create a colony, alongside debridement. This colony forms itself into a type of ‘shield’, which is a glue-like consistency or slime. The biofilms acts as a barrier to the wound and helps the colony to defend itself against antimicrobial treatments and immune cells (Curtis, 2020).