Wound infection Resources

The purpose of this article is not to discuss the pathophysiology of pain in detail, but to focus on the clinical importance of assessing and managing leg ulcer pain. Effective pain management is crucial for improving patient comfort, promoting wound healing and improving overall quality of life. The article explores how to assess pain, including the importance of understanding a patient’s pain experience, use of pain scales, and distinguishing between different types of pain. It also discusses pharmacological approaches to pain relief and offers suggestions as to how healthcare professionals can minimise pain during dressing changes, a frequent source of distress for patients with leg ulcers.

Preventing and managing wound infection has sometimes resulted in inappropriate prescribing of antibiotics and overuse of topical antimicrobial wound dressings. This is partly due to the difficulties in identifying the early signs of wound infection and uncertainty as to who is at risk. This article guides the reader through the importance of considering antimicrobial stewardship (AMS), how to identify at-risk patients, how to reduce the risk through wound bed preparation, and how to identify wound infection. When reviewing wound infection management strategies, it particularly focuses on the role of non-medicated wound dressings, which are becoming a viable alternative to traditional antimicrobial dressings such as silver and iodine.