Why Wound Hygiene?

Introduction Wounds affect patients across the global health continuum. In 2019, one study found that approximately 2% of the United States’ population has been affected by chronic wounds.1 Proper wound hygiene remains one of the most important tenets to optimize healing outcomes in hard-to-heal wounds. Proper wound hygiene may help reduce the likelihood of infection,…

How To Cleanse, Irrigate, Debride, and Dress Wounds

Wound hygiene (eg, cleansing, irrigation, and debridement), including thorough examination of the wound and surrounding tissues, promotes uncomplicated healing of traumatic skin wounds and is required prior to wound closure. Wound healing is impaired by various factors (eg, bacterial contamination, foreign bodies, wound ischemia, host factors). All traumatic wounds are assumed to be contaminated. The…