Final answer:
For wound irrigation, a sterile water or saline solution is typically used, not the listed options. Antibiotic ointment might be applied post-irrigation, with gauze and adhesive tape used to dress the wound thereafter. Antiseptics are used for microbial control on tissues, and oral administration is convenient for home treatment of systemic infections.
Step-by-step explanation:
The subject of this question relates to the correct materials required for wound irrigation. For wound irrigation, none of the listed options (antibiotic ointment, elastic bandage, gauze dressing, adhesive tape) are strictly necessary. Instead, wound irrigation primarily requires a gentle flow of a solution used to clean a wound, which could be sterile water or saline. The aim is to remove debris and reduce the bacterial load without damaging tissue. However, considering related wound care processes, antibiotic ointment may be recommended post-irrigation to prevent infection, especially in cases where bacterial presence is suspected, as in the scenario given in Clinical Focus where an over-the-counter antibiotic ointment is prescribed. Elastic bandage or gauze dressing might be used after irrigation and application of antibiotic ointment to protect the wound, and adhesive tape could be utilized to secure the gauze or dressing in place. For microbial control on tissues to prevent infection, antiseptic is suitable for use (Option B). In terms of administering an antimicrobial to treat a systemic infection at home, oral administration (Option A) is generally considered appropriate and convenient. Additionally, topical antiseptics are part of the toolkit for treating wounds and burns, and they may also be included in products like catheters and bandages to render them antibacterial.