Development and integration of a wound cleansing pathway into clinical practice

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (Sup20) ◽  
pp. S18-S26
Author(s):  
Tracy Vernon ◽  
Kelly Moore ◽  
Mark Collier

Wound bed preparation has come into sharper focus over the past decade, with strategies identified to improve wound condition. This article focuses on implementing a wound cleansing policy and measuring, through audits, how this change affected rates of wound infection. From 2016 onwards, the Skin Integrity Team at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust took steps to revise and improve wound care practices. This resulted in the introduction of a wound cleansing pathway incorporating a surfactant-based cleanser in place of saline, with subsequent staff training and other changes made to practice. This study details the steps taken to implement the new pathway, which brought a reduction in wound infections of 84.3% between 2017 and 2019.

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (Sup6) ◽  
pp. S22-S25
Author(s):  
Martha Williams

In the ever-changing world of wound care and nursing, it remains apparent that chronic wounds are a growing challenge. Evidence shows that age increases the likelihood of developing a chronic wound, which supports the notion that the burden of these wounds on the NHS is likely to further intensify with the ageing population. There are many reasons why a wound may fail to progress, including wound aetiology, comorbidities and environmental and socio-economic factors. One of the most significant reasons why wounds may fail to progress and become chronic is untreated wound infection. In order for clinicians to be able to treat and manage wound infections, it is vital that they understand how infection develops, the many ways in which infections may present themselves and how and when to initiate appropriate topical and systemic therapies to treat wound bed infections. The present article provides an overview of wound bed infections and their management.


2020 ◽  
pp. 133-139
Author(s):  
Sanatan Ratna ◽  
B Kumar

In the past few decades, there has been lot of focus on the issue of sustainability. This has occurred due to the growing concerns related to climate change and the growing awareness about environmental concerns. Also, the competition at global level has led to the search for the most sustainable route in the industries. The current research work deals with the selection of green supplier in a Nickle coating industry based on certain weighted green attributes. For this purpose, a hybrid tool comprising of Fuzzy AHP (Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy) and VIKOR (VlseKriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje) is used. The Fuzzy AHP is used for assigning proper weights to the selected criteria for supplier evaluation, while VIKOR is used for final supplier selection based on the weighted criteria. The three criterions for green supplier selection are, Ecological packaging, Corporate socio-environmental responsibility and Staff Training. The outcome of the integrated model may serve as a steppingstone to other SMEs in different sectors for selecting the most suitable supplier for addressing the sustainability issue.


2006 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Doris Sawatzky-Dickson ◽  
Karen Bodnaryk

Purpose:To evaluate an evidence-based wound protocol for intravenous extravasation injuries in neonates.Sample:Nine newborns with intravenous extravasation injuries. Birth weight: 582–4,404 gm, gestational age: 24–40 weeks.Results:Five wounds were colonized with coagulase-negative Staphylococcus species, two with diphtheroids, three with Enterococcus. There was no evidence of wound infection or systemic infection. Rates of wound healing ranged from one to six weeks.


Toxins ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 575 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chih-Chuan Lin ◽  
Yen-Chia Chen ◽  
Zhong Ning Leonard Goh ◽  
Chen-Ken Seak ◽  
Joanna Chen-Yeen Seak ◽  
...  

Snakebites from Taiwan habus (Protobothrops mucrosquamatus) and green bamboo vipers (Viridovipera stejnegeri) account for two-thirds of all venomous snakebites in Taiwan. While there has been ongoing optimization of antivenin therapy, the proper management of superimposed bacterial wound infections is not well studied. In this Bacteriology of Infections in Taiwanese snake Envenomation (BITE) study, we investigated the prevalence of wound infection, bacteriology, and corresponding antibiotic usage in patients presenting with snakebites from these two snakes. We further developed a BITE score to evaluate the probability of wound infections and guide antibiotic usage in this patient population. All snakebite victims who presented to the emergency departments of seven training and research hospitals and received at least one vial of freeze-dried hemorrhagic antivenin between January 2001 and January 2017 were identified. Patient biodata, laboratory investigation results, and treatment modalities were retrieved. We developed our BITE score via univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted to evaluate the predictive performance of the BITE score. Out of 8,295,497 emergency department visits, 726 patients presented with snakebites from a Taiwan habu or a green bamboo viper. The wound infection rate was 22.45%, with seven positive wound cultures, including six polymicrobial infections. Morganella morganii, Enterococcus spp., Bacteroides fragilis, and Aeromonas hydrophila were most frequently cultured. There were no positive blood cultures. A total of 33.0% (n = 106) of snakebite patients who received prophylactic antibiotics nevertheless developed wound infections, while 44.8% (n = 73) of wound infection patients were satisfactorily treated with one of the following antibiotics: amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, oxacillin, cefazolin, and ampicillin/sulbactam. With the addition of gentamicin, the success of antibiotic therapy increased by up to 66.54%. The prognostic factors for the secondary bacterial infection of snakebites were white blood cell counts, the neutrophil lymphocyte ratio, and the need for hospital admission. The area under the ROC curve for the BITE score was 0.839. At the optimal cut-off point of 5, the BITE score had a 79.58% accuracy, 82.31% sensitivity, and 79.71% specificity when predicting infection in snakebite patients. Our BITE score may help with antibiotic stewardship by guiding appropriate antibiotic use in patients presenting with snakebites. It may also be employed in further studies into antibiotic prophylaxis in snakebite patients for the prevention of superimposed bacterial wound infections.


2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-57
Author(s):  
Kyle C McKenzie ◽  
Cecil D Hahn ◽  
Jeremy N Friedman

Abstract This guideline addresses the emergency management of convulsive status epilepticus (CSE) in children and infants older than 1 month of age. It replaces a previous position statement from 2011, and includes a new treatment algorithm and table of recommended medications based on new evidence and reflecting the evolution of clinical practice over the past several years. This statement emphasizes the importance of timely pharmacological management of CSE, and includes some guidance for diagnostic approach and supportive care.


2021 ◽  
pp. 021849232098845
Author(s):  
Aamir Mohammad ◽  
Santhosh Regini Benjamin ◽  
Sameer Mallampati ◽  
Birla Roy Gnanamuthu ◽  
Anne Jennifer Prabhu ◽  
...  

Bacterial sternal wound infections following cardiac surgery are not uncommon. However, sternal wound infection by a fungus is a rarity, and it warrants a correct diagnosis followed by specific treatment. We report a case of Aspergillus sternal wound infection with costochondritis following cardiac surgery, and briefly review the relevant literature.


Author(s):  
Marcus Rickert ◽  
Michael Rauschmann ◽  
Nizar Latif-Richter ◽  
Mohammad Arabmotlagh ◽  
Tamin Rahim ◽  
...  

Abstract Background and Study Aims The treatment of infections following a spine surgery continues to be a challenge. Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) has been an effective method in the context of infection therapy, and its use has gained popularity in recent decades. This study aims to analyze the impact of known risk factors for postoperative wound infection on the efficiency and length of NPWT therapy until healing. Patients and Methods We analyzed 50 cases of NPWT treatment for deep wound infection after posterior and posteroanterior spinal fusion from March 2010 to July 2014 retrospectively. We included 32 women and 18 men with a mean age of 69 years (range, 36–87 years). Individual risk factors for postoperative infection, such as age, gender, obesity, diabetes, immunosuppression, duration of surgery, intraoperative blood loss, and previous surgeries, as well as type and onset (early vs. late) of the infection were analyzed. We assessed the associations between these risk factors and the number of revisions until wound healing. Results In 42 patients (84%), bacterial pathogens were successfully detected by means of intraoperative swabs and tissue samples during first revision. A total of 19 different pathogens could be identified with a preponderance of Staphylococcus epidermidis (21.4%) and S. aureus (19.0%). Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) was recorded in two patients (2.6%). An average of four NPWT revisions was required until the infection was cured. Patients with infections caused by mixed pathogens required a significantly higher number of revisions (5.3 vs. 3.3; p < 0.01) until definitive wound healing. For the risk factors, no significant differences in the number of revisions could be demonstrated when compared with the patients without the respective risk factor. Conclusion NPWT was an effective therapy for the treatment of wound infections after spinal fusion. All patients in the study had their infections successfully cured, and all spinal implants could be retained. The number of revisions was similar to those reported in the published literature. The present study provides insights regarding the effectiveness of NPWT for the treatment of deep wound infection after spinal fusion. Further investigations on the impact of potential risk factors for postoperative wound healing disorders are required. Better knowledge on the impact of specific risk factors will contribute to a higher effectiveness of prophylaxis for postoperative wound infections considering the patient-specific situation.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 2457
Author(s):  
Birgit J. Gerecke ◽  
Rolf Engberding

Noncompaction cardiomyopathy (NCCM) has gained increasing attention over the past twenty years, but in daily clinical practice NCCM is still rarely considered. So far, there are no generally accepted diagnostic criteria and some groups even refuse to acknowledge it as a distinct cardiomyopathy, and grade it as a variant of dilated cardiomyopathy or a morphological trait of different conditions. A wide range of morphological variants have been observed even in healthy persons, suggesting that pathologic remodeling and physiologic adaptation have to be differentiated in cases where this spongy myocardial pattern is encountered. Recent studies have uncovered numerous new pathogenetic and pathophysiologic aspects of this elusive cardiomyopathy, but a current summary and evaluation of clinical patient management are still lacking, especially to avoid mis- and overdiagnosis. Addressing this issue, this article provides an up to date overview of the current knowledge in classification, pathogenesis, pathophysiology, epidemiology, clinical manifestations and diagnostic evaluation, including genetic testing, treatment and prognosis of NCCM.


2021 ◽  
pp. 112972982110069
Author(s):  
Rui Pinto ◽  
Clemente Sousa ◽  
Anabela Salgueiro ◽  
Isabel Fernandes

The cannulation of an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) by the hemodialysis (HD) nurse is challenging. Despite it being the focus of extensive research, it is still one of the majors causes of damage making it prone to failure. A considerable number of Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) for the management of vascular access (VA) have been published worldwide over the past two decades. This review aimed to assess all information available in the selected CPG regarding AVF cannulation for HD providing a comprehensive analysis in order to interpret possible future cannulation approaches. A total of seven CPGs were described in a coding table separated in seven subthemes: Initiation of cannulation, preparation, technique, needle selection, surveillance, pain, and education. Our analysis outlines current CPGs for HD VA cannulation with lack of good evidence support for the majority of the recommendations, showing that, there is an urgent need for international collaboration and coordination to ensure relevant and high-quality evidence. Future CPGs must consider recommendations with better grading of evidence aiming patient-centered care and nurse decision models that can potentially represent better AVF cannulation outcomes.


2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 224-229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc Albert ◽  
Ragi Nagib ◽  
Adrian Ursulescu ◽  
Ulrich F W Franke

Abstract OBJECTIVES Total arterial myocardial revascularization using bilateral internal mammary arteries shows improved results for mortality, long-term survival and superior graft patency. It has become the standard technique according to recent guidelines. However, these patients may have an increased risk of developing sternal wound infections, especially obese patients or those with diabetes. One reason for the wound complications may be early sternum instability. This situation could be avoided by using a thorax support vest (e.g. Posthorax® vest). This retrospective study compared the wound complications after bilateral internal mammary artery grafting including the use of a Posthorax vest. METHODS Between April 2015 and May 2017, 1613 patients received total arterial myocardial revascularization using bilateral internal mammary artery via a median sternotomy. The Posthorax support vest was used from the second postoperative day. We compared those patients with 1667 patients operated on via the same access in the preceding 26 months. The end points were the incidence of wound infections, when the wound infection occurred and how many wound revisions were needed until wound closure. RESULTS The demographic data of both groups were similar. A significant advantage for the use of a thorax support vest could be seen regarding the incidence of wound infections (P = 0.036) and the length of hospital stay when a wound complication did occur (P = 0.018). CONCLUSIONS As seen in this retrospective study, the early perioperative use of a thorax stabilization vest, such as the Posthorax vest, can reduce the incidence of sternal wound complications significantly. Furthermore, when a wound infection occurred, and the patient returned to the hospital for wound revision, patients who were given the Posthorax vest postoperatively had a significantly shorter length of stay until wound closure.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document