Tag: Wound Treatments

The Role of Hypochlorous Acid in Managing Wounds

Reduction in Antibiotic Usage

 

by Martha Kelso, RN, HBOT

Numerous brands of hypochlorous acid have emerged in the last few years and have been marketed as “ideal” products for use in wound cleansing. These statements, of course, should draw speculation because it is rare for a single product to be used on all wounds, all clients, in all care settings, all the time, thus making it “ideal.” Let’s explore the role of hypochlorous acid in wound management and wound healing and see how it assists with reduction in antibiotic usage.

 

In its true native natural state, hypochlorous acid is a biocide produced naturally by the human body through the process of phagocytosis during the oxidative burst pathway. Because hypochlorous acid is an oxidant, it leaves nothing behind for bacteria and viruses to create resistance to and therefore does not contribute to the superbug (multidrug-resistant organisms) dilemma. Manufacturers have found a way to create hypochlorous acid outside the human body and bottle it for commercial use. These products are non-cytotoxic when concentrations (parts per million) and pH levels are acceptable for human use … read more

 

Atypical Wounds: Causes and Management

Part 1 in a series discussing the etiology, assessment and management of atypical wounds.

As devoted clinicians to the field of wound management we take a responsibility to educate ourselves and others about wound etiologies and characteristics, as well as management of barriers to achieve positive outcomes. We spend a great deal of our careers learning about the most common offenders, such as pressure injuries, diabetic foot ulcers, venous stasis ulcers, arterial wounds, amputations, and traumatic wounds, to name a few. However, as our careers unfold we are faced with extra challenges, and atypical wounds are among them.

An atypical wound, also known as a wound of unknown etiology, is caused by a disease or condition that doesn’t cause a wound typically …. read more