Follow a structured approach to assessing and caring for wounds

+Practice

In print

Wound care

Follow a structured approach to assessing and caring for wounds

June 2025

By Carmen Pope

Wednesday 28 May 2025, 12:25 AM

Dressing selection should be based on wound type and amount of exudate [Image: Diana Polekhina on Unsplash]

Clinical pharmacist Carmen Pope reviews best practice wound management, with a focus on infection prevention

Key points, Take a systematic approach to the assessment of your patient and their wound. Clean and debride all wounds to remove foreign bodies, soil and non-vi, Pract Green w Pale Yellow

Dermatology

References

1. Rice J. Wound Care: A guide to practice for healthcare professionals. Ausmed, 17 January 2023.

2. Phillips J, Gruys C, Dagger G. Advisory Document for Wound Bed Preparation in New Zealand. New Zealand Wound Care Society; 2020.

3. Immunisation Advisory Centre. Guidelines for the management of tetanus-prone wounds. November 2024.

4. Everts R. Wound infection: Prevention and treatment. Auckland, NZ: The Health Media; 2017.

5. Richards A, Wigston C, Bosanquet D, et al. Impact of medications and lifestyle factors on wound healing: A pilot study. Wounds UK 2013;9(1):22–28.

6. Fahey E, Hughes A, Egan C, Murphy CG. Burst lacerations: A new term for a common injury to the foot. J Agromedicine 2018;23(3):279–83.

7. New Zealand Formulary. 13.11 Skin cleansers, antiseptics, and desloughing agents. NZF v152; 1 February 2024.

8. Weir D, Swanson T. Ten top tips: wound cleansing. Wounds International 2019;10(4):8–11.

9. Huang J, Fan C, Ma Y, Huang G. Exploring thermal dynamics in wound healing: The impact of temperature and microenvironment. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol 2024;17:1251–58.

10. DermNet. Wound cleansers. June 2019.

11. BPACnz. Primary care antibiotic guide. May 2025.

12. DermNet. Wound dressings. 2009.

13. Monami M, Scatena A, Ragghianti B, et al. Effectiveness of most common adjuvant wound treatments (skin substitutes, negative pressure wound therapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, platelet-rich plasma/fibrin, and growth factors) for the management of hard-to-heal diabetic foot ulcers: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials for the development of the Italian Guidelines for the Treatment of Diabetic Foot Syndrome. Acta Diabetol 2024; 26 December online.

14. Chen P, Vilorio NC, Dhatariya K, et al. Guidelines on interventions to enhance healing of foot ulcers in people with diabetes (IWGDF 2023 update). Diabetes Metab Res Rev 2024;40(3):e3644.

15. Haesler E. Evidence summary: Super-oxidised solutions for chronic wounds. Wound Practice and Research 2020;28(3):145–47.

16. DermNet. Topical silver therapy. October 2015.

17. Khansa I, Schoenbrunner AR, Kraft CT, Janis JE. Silver in wound care-friend or foe?: A comprehensive review. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open 2019;7(8):e2390.

18. DermNet. Honey in wound care. January 2024.

How to Treat

+How to treat

For older people and frail people, the long-term benefit of medicines reduces and the potential for harm from adverse effects increases. When the benefit–risk balance changes in this way, medicine review and optimisation are important to simplify the therapeutic regimen, reduce inappropriate medicines and minimise risks. In this article, pharmacist prescriber Linda Bryant uses two case studies to illustrate important considerations during medicine reviews

Wednesday 28 May 2025, 12:50 AM