Wound Hygiene
Wound Hygiene1,2 is a anti-biofilm protocol of care designed to clean and decontaminate a wound, and overcome the barriers to healing often caused by the presence of biofilm. Just as we follow basic hygiene every day by washing our hands, brushing our teeth and showering, we should apply regular basic hygiene to wounds to keep them clean and remove biofilm. By implementing Wound Hygiene, you can give every wound the best chance of healing.
We need to reframe the way we talk about wounds
To Hard-to-heal wounds: A wound that has failed to respond to an evidence-based standard of care – typically one that exhibits exudate, slough, and an increase in size by the third day of its occurrence. These conditions allow biofilm to develop and thrive, which in turn causes the wound to regress and prevents healing.2
Wound Hygiene, 4 simple steps
- Cleanse
- Debride
- Refashion the edges
- Dress
Wound Hygiene is a protocol of care developed by clinicians for clinicians and it has become one of the most used protocols of wound-care.
1. Cleanse
Definition:
Actively removing surface contaminants, loose debris, slough, softened necrosis, microbes and/or remnants of previous dressings from the wound surface and its surrounding skin. 1, 2
Rationale:
Cleanse with intent to remove devitalized tissue, debris and biofilm. 1, 2
2. Debride
Definition:
Physically removing biofilm, devitalized tissue, debris and organic matter using mechanical aids. 1, 2
Rationale:
Debridement that does not achieve pinpoint bleeding may not physically remove the biofilm. Applied mechanical force and shear, in combination with a liquid surfactant or antimicrobial solution, is needed to break up and disrupt biofilm. 1, 2
3. Refashion
Definition:
Agitating the wound edge to stimulate the expression of growth factors, to kick start the formation of healthy skin. 1,2
Rationale:
Devitalized tissue, callus, hyperkeratotic debris and senescent cells at the wound edges may be harbouring biofilm. Removal is necessary to facilitate epithelialization and wound contraction. 1,2
4. Dress
Definition:
Applying a dressing to address any residual biofilm and prevent contamination and recolonization, and therefore biofilm reformation. 1,2
Rationale:
Biofilm can reform rapidly, and repeated debridement alone is unlikely to prevent its regrowth. Applying topical antimicrobials and antibiofilm agents can address residual biofilm and prevent its reformation. 1,2
Defying Hard-to-heal Wounds with an Early Antibiofilm Intervention Strategy: Wound Hygiene
Embedding Wound Hygiene into a Proactive Wound Healing strategy2
The need for a holistic approach to Wound Hygiene
Embedding Wound Hygiene into a proactive wound healing strategy means2:
- Embedding Wound Hygiene into a holistic strategy that includes assessment and monitoring of the patient.
- Implement Wound Hygiene at every dressing change until healing occurs
- Recognizing the crucial 5 stages of the healing trajectory:
1. Necrotic tissue
2. Slough tissue
3. Unhealthy granulating tissue
4. Healthy granulating tissue
5. Epithilializing tissue
Wound Hygiene Resources
Consensus Document 1
Defying hard-to-heal wounds with an early antibiofilm intervention strategy
The first wound hygiene consensus document defining the 4 key anti-biofilm steps
Read moreConsensus Document 2
Expert Opinion Article
The second Wound Hygiene consensus document embedding the 4 steps throughout the wound healing trejectory
Read moreWound Hygiene Whitepaper
To Conquer or Be Defeated: The strategy behind winning the wound infection battle
Early use of an antibiofilm strategy promotes positive patient outcomes
Read moreReferences:
1. Murphy C, Atkin L, Swanson T, Tachi M, Tan YK, Vega de Ceniga M, Weir D, Wolcott R. International consensus document. Defying hard-to-heal wounds with an early antibiofilm intervention strategy: Wound Hygiene. J Wound Care 2020; 29(Suppl 3b):S1–28
2. Murphy C, Atkin L, Vega de Ceniga M, Weir D, Swanson T. International consensus document. Embedding Wound Hygiene into a proactive wound healing strategy. J Wound Care 2022; 31:S1–S24