Wound Care Fundamentals

By VeriScorePrep Team · 4 min

Modern wound care favors moist (not wet) wound healing — cells migrate best in a moist environment, and a dry scab slows epithelialization.

Cleaning

Clean from least contaminated to most contaminated (usually center to edge) to avoid introducing bacteria into the wound. Use appropriate solution per facility policy; normal saline is gentle and effective.

Dressing selection

• Alginate: for heavily draining wounds.
• Hydrocolloid: for light-draining, partial-thickness wounds; occlusive.
• Foam: moderate drainage, cushioning.
• Hydrogel: for dry wounds, adds moisture.
• Transparent film: shallow, low-draining, secondary dressing.

Match dressing to drainage amount; under-dressing a wet wound macerates the surrounding skin, and over-dressing a dry wound desiccates it.

Infection signs

Increased pain, redness beyond the wound margin, warmth, purulent or malodorous drainage, and systemic signs (fever, leukocytosis).