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Whirlpool Versus Whirlpool and Rinse for Removal of Bacteria from a Venous Stasis Ulcer

Mr. Bohannon was Staff Physical Therapist, Wake County Medical Center, Raleigh, NC, when this study was conducted. He is currently a master's degree candidate, Division of Physical Therapy, Department of Medical Allied Health Professions, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27514 (USA).

The number of bacteria removed from a venous stasis ulcer by whirlpool treatment alone and that removed by whirlpool treatment followed by vigorous rinsing were compared. A single subject received the whirlpool treatment followed by the rinse on 12 separate occasions. The number of bacteria removed was determined by taking samples of the whirlpool water after the subject's whirlpool treatment and again after rinsing the subject's ulcer over the whirlpool. The samples were cultured on agar plates. By calculating the number of bacterial colonies on the plates, the number of bacteria removed by each treatment was determined. The whirlpool treatment followed by vigorous rinsing was found to remove more than four times as many bacteria as the whirlpool treatment alone. Though performed on a single subject, this clinical pilot study suggests that vigorous rinsing of a contaminated ulcer following removal from the whirlpool can remove additional bacteria.

Key Words: Hydrotherapy • Infection control • Skin ulcer

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