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Topic Date User

infections at the Pines 5-Dec-2008 At 5:27:23 PM meinmuk

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Cicatrin sounds like it has been very effective in the past, but trips to the Solomons may not be practical for everyone. For the rest of us I suggest several helpful steps:

1. hygiene - cleaning will be most effective if done before a cut or graze is actively infected. Easy if you're in and out of the crag and can clean up properly at the end of the day, but for longer stays, taking alcohol-based handwipes is useful for general hygiene.
2. antiseptic - as mentioned above, once a scrape is there, it will get colonised with potentially problematic bacteria. Iodine-based products (such as betadine) will assist with cleaning an injury, but repeated use actually retards healing.
3 wound care - scrapes will heal faster if dressed. A moist local environment actually speeds healing. This may well be inconvenient for a long trip, but so is ripping a scab off every day and not having your injuries heal.
4 antibiotic treatment - really this is best reserved for infected wounds. Repeated prophylactic use will lead to the selection of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and render easy treatment useless. That being said, topical treatment is still available - the acne lotions that contain clindamycin or erythromycin are useful for mild, localized infections. As Neil alluded to, prompt review of established infections will prevent more severe problems.

cheers, Andy
Infectious Diseases Doc