Skin cleansers, antiseptics and desloughing agents

MTW

Potassium permanganate soaks must be prescribed by a Doctor, but will not be authorised by Pharmacy until a TVN assessment has confirmed it is an appropriate treatment – the exception to this will be if it is prescribed directly by the Vascular team.  Please ensure that a referral has been completed on SUNRISE and photographs have been sent to the Tissue viability inbox to ensure there are no delays in starting treatment or offering an alternate plan if it is required.

DGT

Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust and Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley Area have withdrawn potassium permanganate due to safety concerns. It is not recommended for prescribing.

EKHUFT

Tablets 400mg for topical solution: Only to be prescribed for a named patient by a specialist in dermatology, a clinician working under the guidance of a dermatologist, or specialist tissue viability staff.

Staff must ensure that potassium permanganate is not stored with medicines for oral/internal use, including the ward drug trolley; dilution should occur away from the patient, and neither the concentrated form or the diluted form, should be left near the patient or accessible to other patients or visitors.

Because of safety concerns all use of Potassium Permangnate must be consistent with the 2022 national patient safety alert to minimise risk of accidental ingestion which can be fatal. Practice must be consistent with the British Association Of Dermatalogists guidelines which all prescribers and administrators should be familiar with before use.

Potassium permanganate soaks can only be used whilst an inpatient – they will not be authorised or dispensed if added to an EDN.