Effectiveness of polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) against odor in diabetic foot ulcer

Abstract

Background: Diabetic foot ulcer are open wounds on the surface of the skin due to complications of macroangiopathy which causes vascular insufficiency and neuropathy. Odor found in diabetic foot ulcer or wound exudate can indicate the growth of microorganisms in the wound. Efforts that can be made to reduce infections that cause odor in wounds are by carrying out wound care starting at the initial stage of washing the wound. Wound washing using polyhexamethyl biguanide can reduce the odor of diabetic foot ulcer.

Purpose: To determine the effectiveness of polyhexamethylene biguanide against odor in diabetic foot ulcer at Wocare Center Bogor.

Method: This research was a quasi-experiment using a pre-test and post-test one-group design approach with a sample size of 20 people. Data was collected using the Odor assessment scoring tools. With data analysis using paired sample t-test.

Results: Based on the average value before being given PHMB, it was 1.725 and the odor level in diabetic foot ulcers after being given PHMB decreased to 1.200. So after being given PHMB it has been proven to reduce the odor of diabetic foot ulcers. The results of the paired sample t-test showed that the p-value was 0.000, this value was smaller than 0.05.

Conclusion: There was a significant difference in the level of an odor of diabetic foot ulcer between before and after being given PHMB as a fluid for washing the ulcer. polyhexamethylene biguanide is effective as a fluid for washing diabetic foot ulcers at the Wocare Center Bogor Clinic.