Effect of Using 5% Potassium Permanganate Dressing Solution on Accelerating Cellulitis Healing Process

Background: Cellulitis is considered as a one of the common acute skin infection which causes pain, swelling and erythema. Moreover, it may carry a socioeconomic burden. Recently, 5% potassium permanganate dressing solution has been extensively used as a trustworthy antiseptic as for many types of wounds. Aim: to determine the efficacy of Potassium permanganate dressing solution on accelerating cellulitis healing process. Design: Quasi-experimental design. Setting: At inpatient surgical department at Alexandria Main University Hospital. Subjects: a convenience sample of 40 adult cellulitis patients of both sexes. Results: no statistically significant difference between both groups during the 1st assessment was found. During 2nd and 3rd assessment, there were statistically significant differences in the study group over the control group in most items of cellulitis severity assessment. Conclusion: 5% potassium permanganate solution as a topical antiseptic dressing solution for cellulitis is viable and well tolerated, effectively hastening the cellulitis healing including decreasing the severity of pain, edema and erythema.