Tap water is as good as sterile saline to irrigate simple lacerations

Question Is irrigation with tap water an effective way to clean simple lacerations before suturing?

Synopsis Children aged 1 to 17 years presenting to a paediatric emergency department with simple lacerations were allocated on alternate days (non-randomised controlled trial) to wound irrigation with tap water (n = 259) or usual sterile saline solution (n = 271). Patients were excluded if they had wounds involving fractures, …