Audit of the use of sugar dressings for the control of wound odour at Lilongwe Central Hospital, Malawi

Seventy-one patients with malodorous, painful wounds were treated with sugar dressings in Lilongwe Hospital, Malawi, to assess the effects of such dressings on diminishing pain and odour. Pain and odour were assessed at the beginning of dressing application and then at frequent intervals. Mean patient odour scores reduced from 5.45 (out of 10) on application to 2.94 at 10 days, and mean patient discomfort scores reduced from 6.73 on application to 3.87 at 10 days. This very cheap treatment produced reproducible benefits as part of an appropriate protocol for use in developing world hospitals with limited resources and nursing care.