CASE STUDY: APPLICATION OF POLYHEXAMETHYLENE BIGUANIDE (PHMB) COMPRESSES ON WOUND HEALING IN PATIENTS WITH DIABETIC ULCER INFECTIONS

Abstract

 

Background: Diabetes mellitus is one of the diseases that is a major concern because its incidence continues to increase. One of the complications that occurs is diabetic ulcers that attack from the subcutaneous tissue to the bone. Diabetic ulcer infections can be characterised by pain, swelling, redness, exudate, biofilm, odour, and necrosis. If wound care is not handled properly, it will worsen the condition of the wound. Wound care needs to include the application of PHMB fluid compresses and PHMB gel to diabetic ulcer patients to address skin integrity damage. Objective: This study aims to examine the effectiveness of PHMB compresses and PHMB gel in diabetic ulcer patients. Method: This study uses a case study method. The sample in this case study consisted of two individuals: patient 1, aged 65, who had a diabetic ulcer with a wound on the left thumb and infection; and patient 2, aged 47, with a wound on the left foot and infection. Results: The results showed that the application of PHMB on diabetic ulcers led to an improvement in wound healing. This was indicated by the REEDA (Redness, Edema, Ecchymosis, Discharge, Approximation) score in patient 1, which was 7 before treatment and 3 after treatment. Meanwhile, in patient 2, the score before treatment was 10 and after treatment it was 3. Conclusion: The application of PHMB compresses and PHMB gel is effective in reducing the degree of infection and skin integrity damage in diabetic ulcers.

Keyword: Compresses PHMB, diabetic ulcer, REEDA