To flush an area of the body with a stream of liquid for the purpose of cleansing or medicating the area. Wound irrigation may be accomplished with clean, warm water, or with a disinfectant such as hydrogen peroxide. To prevent infection, skin wounds should not be touched with the hands, particularly if the wounds are bleeding. Irrigating a wound allows the open skin surface to be cleaned or medicated without coming into physical contact with the possible contaminants carried on another person’s hands.
Cleaning a soiled or infected wound by repeatedly rinsing it with a medicinal solution or sterile saline.