Wound and mucosal antiseptics can be based on chlorhexidine digluconate, polyhexanide, hydrogen peroxide, sodium hypochlorite, povidone iodine or octenidine dihydrochloride. Silver can also be used as an antimicrobial agent in wound treatment, for example, in wound dressings. A health benefit can be expected at least in patients with infected or critically colonised wounds. Povidone iodine has been shown to have a low adaptive response, an inconsistent effect on biofilm formation and a moderate or strong removal of existing biofilm. Sodium hypochlorite and hydrogen peroxide also showed a low adaptive response, but may enhance biofilm formation and have mostly a moderate ability to remove biofilm. Limited data with octenidine dihydrochloride shows an inconsistent picture. Polyhexanide can show a strong adaptive response, mainly in Gram-positive species. Its ability to remove biofilm is mostly moderate. Chlorhexidine digluconate and silver can both often show a strong adaptive response, mainly in Gram-negative species. Silver can moderately inhibit biofilm formation, whereas the effect of chlorhexidine digluconate is lower. For biofilm removal, silver usually has a moderate effect, whereas the effect of chlorhexidine digluconate is usually poor or moderate. Overall, povidone iodine seems to have the lowest selection pressure and chlorhexidine digluconate the highest.