Skin cleansers and antiseptics (Formulary: Dermatology)

Important: Formulation and dosage details

Formulation:

Potassium permanganate tablets for cutaneous solution 400mg (Prescribing restrictions, see below)

In primary care:

• As per BAD recommendations: Potassium permanganate concentrate should always be prescribed for a named patient by a primary care prescriber experienced in the treatment of dermatological conditions and use of potassium permanganate.
• Ensure patients are NOT on repeat prescriptions for potassium permanganate
• Prescriptions to include clear instructions to dilute before use
• Dispensing label to include the warning ‘HARMFUL IF SWALLOWED’.

In secondary care:

• As per BAD recommendations: Potassium permanganate concentrate should always 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 only.
• To be supplied on a named patient basis only
• To be prescribed as ‘potassium permanganate 0.01% topical solution’ and the dispensing label must include the warning ‘HARMFUL IF SWALLOWED’
• Potassium permanganate is not to be 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.

All settings:

• Prescriptions are only to be issued by an appropriate prescriber as per BAD recommendations above. For full recommendations see: Guidance-for-safe-use-of-potassium-permanganate-soaks-amended-Nov-2022.pdf
• If potassium permanganate is to be used in a patient’s home, a risk assessment must be undertaken before prescribing
• All patients must be supplied with a patient information leaflet:
  • BAD: How to use Potassium Permanganate Soaks
  • NHS Highland: How to use Potassium Permanganate (NHS Highland intranet access required)

BAD (British Association of Dermatology) guidance recommendations: Safe-use-of-potassium-permanganate-soaks