Clean vs. Sterile Technique in Chronic Wounds

Clean Technique vs. Sterile Technique in Chronic Wounds

Definitions:

According to Torre and Chambers (2008) a chronic wound is a wound that has “failed to proceed through an orderly and timely process to produce functional integrity.”

Common chronic wounds are diabetic foot ulcers, pressure or venous stasis ulcers, traumatic, surgical or neoplastic wounds.

Facts about Chronic Wound Care:

According to Zaleski (2008) Chronic wounds represent a significant burden to patients, healthcare professionals and the US healthcare system: 

• Affects 5-7 million patients and costing an estimated 20 billion dollars annually 

• 98% of chronic wounds are contaminated with aerobic organism and the infection rate of a chronic wound is estimated at 2.1%

• Wound care products cost the US healthcare system over $7 billion in 2007 

• An estimated 1.3 to 3 million US individuals are believed to have pressure ulcers 

• As many as 10% to 15% of the 20 million diabetics are at risk for developing diabetic ulcers 

Sterile Technique:

Defined by the - Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse Association (WOCN) as “strategies used in patient care to reduce exposure to microorganisms and maintain objects and areas as free from microorganisms as possible. This includes, use of sterile field, meticulous hand washing, use of sterile gloves, and use of sterile dressings and instruments.

Clean Technique:

Defined by the WOCN as “strategies used in patient care to reduce overall numbers of microorganisms from one person to another of from one place to another.” This includes, maintaining a clean field, meticulous hand washing, use of clean gloves and prevention of direct contamination of supplies and materials.

                                      Reference

Zaleski, T. (2008). Active products drive wound-care

     market. Infection Control Today, 28(9),2.