Special edition: Resources from the Buzz Report
This issue, we highlight some resources from “The Buzz Report,” the popular presentation given by editor-in-chief Donna Sardina, RN, MHA, WCC, CWCMS, DWC, OMS, at the Wild On Wounds (WOW) conference, held each September in Las Vegas.
Decolonization protocol to reduce MRSA
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has published “Universal ICU Decolonization: An Enhanced Protocol.” The protocol is based on materials successfully used in the REDUCE MRSA Trial (Randomized Evaluation of Decolonization vs. Universal Clearance to Eliminate Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus), which found that universal decolonization was the most effective intervention.
Download the protocol, which includes an overview, scientific rationale, and several appendices with valuable tools, such as a flow chart of implementing universal decolonization, chlorhexidine bathing skills assessment, nursing protocol, and training and education materials.
Collagenase SANTYL® Ointment online dosing calculator
Use a handy online calculator to estimate the number of grams needed for therapy and the amount of SANTYL® Ointment to apply per application. Simply enter the width and length of the wound in centimeters, along with the planned number of treatment days. The results include not only the amount, but also the calculation.
You can also download the calculator to your computer or tablet for easy access. Of course, the estimates are simply a guide and should be adjusted based on clinical experience and individual wound characteristics.
CDC resources for long-term care facilities
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has dedicated an entire section of its website to information for long-term care facilities.
Among the resources are clinical staff information, resident information, and prevention tools. You can also access guidelines for infection prevention and control
in healthcare settings and information about tracking infections in long-term care
facilities.
Over 3 million Americans receive care in U.S. nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities each year and nearly 1 million persons reside in assisted living facilities.
Free wound care resources
Access a variety of free wound care resources from Advanced Tissue. The resources include newsletters and webinars of interest to clinicians, such as “Identifying ulcers,” “Let’s go on wound rounds! Management of pressure ulcers,” and “Strategies for wound care treatment and debridement.”
You can also sign up to receive invitations to future wound education webinars.
Patient information on PAD
“Vascular disease patient information page: Peripheral artery disease” (PAD), an article by Ratchford and Evans in Vascular Medicine, explains what PAD is and discusses risk factors, signs and symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. The article includes a figure that describes ankle-brachial index measurement.
DISCLAIMER: All clinical recommendations are intended to assist with determining the appropriate wound therapy for the patient. Responsibility for final decisions and actions related to care of specific patients shall remain the obligation of the institution, its staff, and the patients’ attending physicians. Nothing in this information shall be deemed to constitute the providing of medical care or the diagnosis of any medical condition. Individuals should contact their healthcare providers for medical-related information.
