Is Dakins still used?

[clemmm78, RN]

I'm working as a replacement in an occupational health setting. The RN I'm replacing recommends using Dakins solution for various problems. I was under the impression that Dakins is no longer in use. Is it?

Thanks.

[CNL2B]

I've seen it ordered for really contaminated wounds. Some of our surgeons like to use is for pseudomonas. It's not ordered often, however. My ICU pulled it from the shelves because it is so rarely used and so it doesn't get confused with bottles of saline, sterile H2O, etc.

I don't know what your occ health nurse is recommending it for, but my impression is that Dakins is a prescription only product. She shouldn't just be using it for local wound care on whatever, and I would question how she obtained it in the first place (an old bottle from somewhere? IDK.)

[Sun0408, ASN, RN]

We still use it all the time for wet to dry dressing changes.

[bsrn0523]

like cnl said, we still occasionally use it for dirty wounds and those with pseudomonas.

[Penelope_Pitstop, BSN, RN]

We use it on occasion. I don't remember the species of the bugs growing in the wounds, but I do recall them being rather deep.

We don't stock it on the floor, a large jug is sent from pharmacy and kept in the med fridge when it's ordered.

[HappydayRn]

We use it on certain wounds still.

[CNL2B]

Welcome to Century Pharmaceuticals, Inc! --- This is the Dakins site, there is a lot of info in their FAQs.

Nope I was wrong. The company says that it can be used for local wound care and is OTC. There are a lot of articles linked about it's antimicrobial properties on the site.

I wonder if it has any effect on wound healing, however, like H202 (cellular damage, etc.) and this is why it isn't used. Just because it kills everything doesn't mean it's good for the wound, etc. Anybody know?

[clemmm78, RN]

Thanks for your responses. Actually, she makes her own.

[CNL2B]

Thanks for your responses. Actually, she makes her own.

Well, I hope she's mixing it sterile. The Dakins website also says that it's only stable for 7 days once opened so I hope she's dumping it after awhile.

[Tait, MSN, RN]

We use it.

[SaraO'Hara]

I've seen it once in two years - a deep, sloughy, infected groin incision from a fempop bypass upon which we performed wet-dry dsgs.

[Asystole RN]

All the time.