As a common household item, hydrogen peroxide has many beneficial uses. But in wound care, it can create complications — especially during healing. Hydrogen peroxide is a mild antiseptic solution first produced in 1818 by French chemist, Louis Jacques Thenard. Hydrogen peroxide works by releasing oxygen, which causes a foaming action. This oxidative action helps to cleanse a wounded area as well as remove dead skin cells. This solution occurs naturally in small amounts and is formed when atmospheric oxygen reacts with water. Over time, hydrogen peroxide has become a useful product in our day-t ..read more

Whether seropurulent or serous, it can be challenging to make a distinction between the different types of wound drainage, also known as exudate. But recognizing the type of wound drainage present and knowing how to treat it are essential wound care skills. We spoke with two wound care experts on how to identify and treat one exudate type known as seropurulent wound drainage. What is seropurulent drainage? Seropurulent wound drainage signifies a characteristic change from standard wound drainage, said Kristie Shytle, MSN, RN, AGNP-BC, a nurse practitioner at the Duke Raleigh Hospital Wound Hea ..read more

Honey’s health benefits go beyond improving cardiovascular health and soothing a nasty cough. Research has shown that the use of medical honey for wounds has many benefits in improving healing. It serves as a treatment for certain wound types and can be used as a dressing in some instances. While not a standard method of treatment, the application of medical honey can reduce pain and inflammation, accelerate healing, and help enhance patients’ quality of life. By understanding medical honey and its appropriate uses, and best practices, you can discover this product’s potential in healing wound ..read more

Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) can change the course of healing. This approach helps reduce instances of infection and helps difficult wounds heal more smoothly. NWPT is an approved, effective treatment for both acute and chronic wounds. This procedure promotes tissue granulation and healing, but like any treatment, there are elements to consider, including appropriate dressings, condition of the wound, and medications. To better understand NWPT as well as the most appropriate uses, we spoke with Karen Shum, DPM, Director of the Limb Preservation Center at Torrance Memorial Medical Cen ..read more

The holidays are a time of celebration and giving. Because of all the incredible work wound care pros do, many organizations want to show their appreciation through special offers and holiday discounts this season. Whether it’s Black Friday (November 24), Cyber Monday (November 25), or all season long, be sure to take advantage of these holiday discounts and more. Holiday discounts from WCEI Looking to explore other areas of wound care like diabetic wound management or ostomy care? Special offers from WCEI can help you take the next steps of your career this holiday season. Exclusively on Cybe ..read more

Wound care is an ever-evolving specialty in which there is ongoing research, development, and use of new dressings and medications. Nurses and other clinicians are always evaluating wound care products for their effectiveness. New products and medications deemed more efficacious can sometimes make older ones less favorable. However, there is one treatment option that has been around for a long time and still commonly used — a medication known as mupirocin ointment. Mupirocin has been shown to be an effective wound treatment for hard-to-heal or chronic wounds. Its use can transform quality of l ..read more

Skin tears are common injuries to the skin that affect various patient populations, especially the aging population. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), older adults will make up nearly 25% of the U.S. population by 2060. And as this group continues to age, the risk for chronic diseases and susceptibility to this wound type increases. The prevalence of skin tears continues to rise, with some studies estimating as many as 1.5 million occurrences of skin tears each year in the U.S. Another study reports higher skin tear incidences in long-term care facilities, with ..read more

Wound care nursing is rewarding and often intense. It offers nurses the chance to truly get to know their patients and specialize in one area of patient care. But it is not without its share of difficulties. These are some of the common challenges in wound care nursing. Patient engagement Healing difficult wounds is hard enough, but if we are unable to get our patients to “buy into” their role in healing, it is significantly more challenging. Patient education must be constantly reviewed and reinforced. Even with constant reinforcement, there will be those patients who just won’t follow throug ..read more

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