TY - JOUR T1 - Tap water as a wound cleansing agent in accident and emergency. JF - Journal of Accident & Emergency Medicine JO - Arch Emerg Med SP - 165 LP - 166 DO - 10.1136/emj.14.3.165 VL - 14 IS - 3 AU - M S Riyat AU - D N Quinton Y1 - 1997/05/01 UR - http://emj.bmj.com/content/14/3/165.abstract N2 - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the bacterial cleanliness of tap water in a large accident and emergency (A&E) department for its possible use in the cleansing and irrigation of open traumatic wounds. METHODS: Tap water samples were collected from different areas within the department and analysed on two separate occasions for coliforms, S aureus, clostridia, pseudomonas, and beta haemolytic streptococci. RESULTS: Pathogenic bacteria were not isolated from the tap water samples within the A&E department. CONCLUSIONS: Tap water of drinking quality can be used to irrigate open traumatic wounds. ER -