Advances in skin & wound care
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Adv Skin Wound Care · Jun 2011
Comparative StudyKnowledge and management of pressure ulcers: impact of lecture-based interactive workshops on training of nurses.
The objective of this study was to determine if a structured workshop on knowledge and management of pressure ulcers (PrUs) for nurses led to an improvement of knowledge in the participants. ⋯ A lecture-based workshop on knowledge and management of PrUs helps improve nurses' knowledge and allows them to overcome training deficiencies.
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Adv Skin Wound Care · May 2011
Case ReportsA case of refractory pyoderma gangrenosum treated with a combination of Apligraf and systemic immunosuppressive agents.
Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a rare inflammatory ulcerative skin disease. A case of refractory PG treated with a combination of immunosuppression and Apligraf (Organogenesis, Canton, Massachusetts) is presented. Under infliximab, systemic corticosteroids, and Apligraf, the wound showed a slow but complete healing. The authors demonstrated the potential benefits of Apligraf in the healing of PG.
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Adv Skin Wound Care · Apr 2011
Leveraging certified nursing assistant documentation and knowledge to improve clinical decision making: the on-time quality improvement program to prevent pressure ulcers.
The goal of this article was to enhance understanding of the On-Time Quality Improvement for Long-term Care Program, a practical approach to embed health information technology into quality improvement in nursing homes that leverages certified nursing assistant documentation and knowledge, supports frontline clinical decision making, and establishes proactive intervention for pressure ulcer prevention.
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Adv Skin Wound Care · Feb 2011
Suprathel-antiseptic matrix: in vitro model for local antiseptic treatment?
Acetic acid is a traditional antiseptic agent that has been used for more than 6000 years. The main goal of this study was to demonstrate the suitability of Suprathel (PolyMedics Innovations GmbH, Denkendorf, Germany) in combination with various antiseptic agents to create an "antiseptic-matrix" especially designed for problematic microorganisms such as Proteus vulgaris, Acinetobacter baumannii, or Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which are frequently associated with burns. The study was designed to test the in vitro antimicrobial effect of a "Suprathel-antiseptic matrix" (Suprathel combined with acetic acid 3%, povidone-iodine 11% [Betaisodona], polyhexanide 0.04% [Lavasept], phenoxyethanol 2%/octenidine dihydrochloride 0.1% [Octenisept], mafenide acetate 5%, and chlorhexidine gluconate 1.5%/cetrimid 15% [Hibicet]). ⋯ It can be concluded that Suprathel-antiseptic matrix appears to be suitable as a local antiseptic agent, but clinical studies need to be performed to confirm these in vitro observations. The authors' previous studies have shown that acetic acid demonstrates a wide antiseptic spectrum for microorganisms typically found in burn patients. The combination of Suprathel and acetic acid worked well in this study and appears to be promising for future clinical application.
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The therapeutic use of honey in wound care has been used since ancient times. Honey has been shown to have antibacterial properties in vitro and animal studies have demonstrated accelerated wound healing with the use of honey. In human trials, there is currently not enough strong evidence to fully support the use of honey in wound care; however, use in minor burns and prevention of radiation mucositis appear to be 2 areas where honey shows therapeutic promise.