TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - PHARMACEUTICALS - Preferred Method: The method of producing a biodegradable chitosan composition, further comprises: neutralizing the chitosan composition by contacting the composition with water, a neutral, or a basic solution, where the water, neutral, or basic solution is selected to modulate a physical-mechanical property of the chitosan, thus producing a biodegradable chitosan composition; selecting an agent; and incorporating at least one agent into the chitosan composition at a point of care. In the method of producing a biodegradable chitosan composition: the chitosan degree of deacetylation, weight percent, neutralization solution, solvent make-up, and/or crystallinity is varied to customize the biodegradation profile, elution profile, and/or a physical-mechanical property of the chitosan composition; the method is ex vivo; the desired shape is obtained by freezing the chitosan in a mold and lyophilizing the chitosan to form a sponge, or pouring the chitosan into a thin layer and heating the chitosan to form a dehydrated chitosan film; the chitosan is treated with an acid comprising acetic, citric, oxalic, propionic, ascorbic, hydrochloric, formic, salicylic or lactic acids, preferably 1-99% lactic and/or acetic acid; the water content is reduced by at least 10%; and the chitosan composition biodegrades over at least 3-5 days, when implanted in a subject. The method of treating or preventing an infection, further comprises irrigating and debriding the site of trauma. The method of treating or preventing an infection reduces bacteria present at the site by at least 20-100% at 72 hours after contact with the composition relative to an untreated control site. In the method of treating or preventing an infection, the point of treatment is in a surgical suite, clinic, physician's office or other clinical setting. Preferred Components: The physical-mechanical property comprises tensile strength, Young's modulus, swelling and/or degradation. The agent is an antimicrobial which is selected based on the source of trauma. The acid solvent is a 1% acid solution comprising a blend of lactic acid (75%) and acetic acid (25%). The chitosan has a uniform degree of deacetylation of at least 61, preferably 80 %. The agent is: an antimicrobial agent comprising anti-bacterial, anti-viral or anti-fungal agents; or an antibiotic comprising daptomycin, vancomycin or amikacin. The amount of the agent is sufficient to reduce the survival or proliferation of a bacterial cell. The composition comprises antibiotic (1 mu g to 500 mg) per gram chitosan. The composition releases at least 1 mu g to 1 mg of antibiotic per hour. The composition is 80% deacetylated chitosan treated with lactic or acetic acid. In the composition, the acid, the chitosan percent deacetylation or weight percent is varied to customize the composition's degradation and elution rates. In the wound management device: the agent is antimicrobial, growth factor, antiinflammatory, hemostatic or antithrombotic; the agent is sufficient to reduce the survival or proliferation of a bacterial cell; the bacterial cell is Pseudomonas aeruginosa lux or Staphylococcus aureus; the composition is custom loaded with an agent by a clinician at the point of treatment; and the chitosan composition comprises a chitosan sponge in a chitosan gel. The wound management device: provides for the long term release of an agent; and comprises chitosan (61 degrees of deacetylation (DDA) or 71 DDA) that is neutralized with sodium hydroxide (0.175 or 0.5 M). In the medical device, the chitosan composition is a film that adheres to the device. The medical device comprises titanium or stainless steel. The medical device is a prosthetic device. In the kit, the composition is present in the wound management device or medical device for implantation. ACTIVITY - Antibacterial; Fungicide; Virucide; Osteopathic; Vulnerary.    MECHANISM OF ACTION - None given.    ADMINISTRATION - Administration of the composition is 1 mu g to 500 mg/cm3 sponge, preferably 20 mg in 12-72 hours, preferably 24 hours or 10-1000 mu g in 1, 24 or 72 hours in the form of film, hydrogel, mesh, plug, strip, sponge, suture and/or dressing (claimed) by any suitable route.    EXAMPLE - No suitable example given.