title: Nursing management of chronic wounds: best practices across the continuum of care.
abstract: This article highlights the nurse's role within a holistic, interdisciplinary approach to chronic wound management. Best practices for chronic wound care are discussed, drawing on evidence-based science when it is available. The fundamentals of chronic wound care, including cleansing, irrigation, débridement, infection control, and topical treatment are addressed. New devices and technologies are briefly reviewed. Implementing these best practices across the continuum of care will result in greater advances in the management of chronic wounds.
authors.affiliation: The Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. dlkrasner@aol.com
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Krasner
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Sibbald
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001458:Bandages; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D003646:Debridement; D006801:Humans; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000451:nursing* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents