A dedicated follower of fashion? Topical medications and wounds

This article reviews the factors that impinge on the application of topical medications in wound care. The role of systemic and topical antibiotics in wound care is reviewed. Similarly, two antiseptics — iodine and silver, of great current interest in wound management — are scrutinized. The value of these topical agents in the management of wound bioburden should be ascertained from the perspective of understanding the advantages and disadvantages of their use and not established from what is currently the trend.