01 September 2021
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.