Certified Wound Ostomy Nurse (CWON) Practice Test

When should antiseptic solutions be discontinued?

1. When the wound is larger

2. As soon as the wound bed is clean

3. After the first dressing change

4. When there are no signs of infection

The correct answer is: As soon as the wound bed is clean

The correct answer is that antiseptic solutions should be discontinued as soon as the wound bed is clean. This is based on the understanding that the primary goal of using antiseptic solutions is to reduce microbial load and promote an environment conducive to healing. Once the wound bed is clean, indicating that the initial debridement of necrotic tissue and removal of contaminants has been achieved, there is no further need to use antiseptics, which can be cytotoxic to healthy tissue. Continuing the use of antiseptic solutions beyond this point can hinder healing by damaging viable cells and delaying the regeneration of tissue. The focus should shift to maintaining the wound in a moist environment, allowing for natural healing processes to take place. If antiseptics are used unnecessarily after achieving a clean wound bed, it can lead to prolonged exposure to agents that may impede healing. For other choices, while a larger wound might require different management strategies, this does not directly address when antiseptics should be discontinued. After the first dressing change does not take into account the actual condition of the wound bed, and the absence of signs of infection, while important, does not specifically define the optimal moment for discontinuation of antiseptics. Rather, cleansing is the key indicator that the continued