Efficacy and overall impact on wound healing of acetic acid and ascorbic acid as antiseptics in chronic diabetic wounds

INTERVENTION: Participants will be recruited from in‐ward patients as well as patients attending the wound clinics of the Colombo South Teaching Hospital. Consenting participants will be randomized into three arms. either 0.5% acetic acid (arm A), 0.5% ascorbic acid (arm B) or 0.9% saline (arm C). Following initial assessment, cleaning, and swabbing the relevant antiseptic solution will be applied in a amount adequate to soak the wound. The wound will be managed according to standard protocols, with the same antiseptic solution being applied every other day for 1 week. CONDITION: Chronic diabetic wounds PRIMARY OUTCOME: Wound healing according to PEDIS score (Perfusion, Extent/size, Depth/tissue loss, Infection, and Sensation) and an objective wound assessment questionnaire SECONDARY OUTCOME: 1. Bacterial colony count of the wound ; 2. pH of the wound ; INCLUSION CRITERIA: 1. Age over 18 years 2. Chronic diabetic wounds which have lasted over 1 month 3. No clinical evidence of occlusive arterial disease