a health care guide for nursing staff Care of wound equipment and dressing field

a health care guide for nursing staff Care of wound equipment and dressing field

Why is it important? Wound dressings and equipment can become contaminated by the environment in which they are stored, which can increase the risk of wound infection. You can minimise the risk of wound infection by cleaning or sterilising equipment, using single use disposable equipment, attending to hand hygiene and choosing appropriate gloves to provide wound care.

The aim of cleaning equipment is to remove microorganisms. Care should be taken to ensure that the way in which equipment is stored or cleaned will not contribute to contamination. What can I do? Risk assessment Always consider the individual s environment, the technical difficulty of the wound management procedure and your own competence when assessing risk in wound care. Use this risk assessment to make decisions about the most appropriate place to store wound equipment and place your dressing field Each individual must be assessed for their risk of infection, and a decision made regarding the items of equipment that should be sterile and those that should be clean Storage of equipment Store the individual s dressings in a clean plastic container with a sealable lid and away from heating vents and window ledges Do not use cardboard boxes to store dressings as these cannot be cleaned Do not store or place the dressing container on the floor Keep this equipment specifically for wound care, and try to keep pets and children away from the equipment

Ensure the equipment is dedicated to the one individual Educate individuals about infection control risks and the importance of storing equipment correctly Be aware that moist wound products without preservatives (such as certain hydrogels), are more likely to grow microorganisms and cannot be stored for long periods of time Any wound product remaining after the package has been opened must be stored correctly. Ensure that you seal the original packaging with tape and record the date it was opened. You may also consider using snap lock plastic bags to store the sealed package Discard remaining wound product if it is visibly damaged, contaminated or has expired Condition of equipment If you have assessed that clean equipment provided by an individual (home care setup) is appropriate: Ensure that scissors are visibly clean and free from rust Ensure that any bowls, cups or plates used in the home care setup to hold liquids, or to provide a clean working surface, are in good condition. Do not use these items if they have chips, cracks or scratches Ensure that equipment in the home care setup does not contain ridges that are difficult to clean and which could harbour microorganisms Do not reuse single use items. For example, sterile dressing trays or items displaying this symbol: 2

Care of the dressing field Ensure there is a clean surface/field to place your dressings that is elevated above the floor. The field should be at a height which prevents contamination from skin scales and fibres while changing a dressing The dressing field should ideally be placed on a clean table. Where this is not possible, plastic (for example, plastic apron or the underside of the plastic container lid) should be placed on the surface Clean the working surface with a general purpose detergent solution or sanitising wipes, before and after every dressing

How do individuals clean their home care setup? If you have assessed that using clean equipment provided by an individual (home care setup) is suitable for the procedure and the individual is capable of caring for equipment, it is essential that you educate the individual or their carer to be responsible in the following ways: 1. Clean the home care setup equipment as soon as practical after use. This prevents body fluids and lotions from drying on the equipment and becoming difficult to remove 2. Wash the equipment in hot, soapy water with a general-purpose detergent solution 3. Either air dry the equipment or dry it with a clean towel 4. Once dry, promptly place the equipment in the plastic container with the lid on If an individual is unable to effectively clean their own equipment, consider alternatives such as single-use items for each dressing procedure.

Tips to remember 1 2 Hand hygiene is the best method to prevent the transmission of infectious microorganisms to people and equipment Educating individuals about the risks associated with infection control principles will assist in giving the best possible outcome

ERC121328 References Australian/New Zealand Standard. AS/NZ 4187:2003. Code of Practice for cleaning, disinfecting and sterilizing reusable medical and surgical instruments and equipment, and maintenance of associated environments in Health Care facilities. Australian Wound Management Association, (2009). Position document: Bacterial impact on wound healing: From contamination to infection. http://www.awma. com.au/publications/2009/bacterial_impact_position_document_v_1_0.pdf (accessed February 2011) National Health Medical Research Council, (2010). Australian guidelines for the prevention and control of infection in healthcare http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/ publications/synopses/cd33syn.htm (accessed February 2011) National Health Medical Research Council, (2010). Clinical educators guide for the prevention and control of infection in healthcare http://www.nhrmc.gov.au/_ files_nhrmc/file/publications/synopses/cd33_icg_clinical_ed_guide_web.pc (accessed February 2011) Rowley S, Clare S, Macqueen S, Molyneux R. (2010). ANTT v2: An updated practice framework for aseptic technique. British Journal of Nursing (intravenous supplement) 19(5) ps5-s11 Disclaimer This health care guide is part of the Connected Wound Care program, which provides important information to about wound care. All care has been taken to ensure information is current and best-practice, however always consult your healthcare professional if you have any concerns or queries. Acknowledgements Connected Wound Care an initiative of the Victorian Department of Health Strengthening Wound Management Practice Strategy developed in partnership with Royal District Nursing Service and the Victorian Regional Wound Management Clinical Nurse Consultants. This project received support from the Australian and Victorian Governments through the HACC program, www.health.vic.gov.au/hacc/ projects/woundmanagement Developed September 2011. Revised November 2012. RDNS ECIS.WOU012 Nov 2012