Community Pharmacy and Practice (313) Flashcards
What is a wound defined as?
A wound is defined as an injury to living tissue caused by a cut, blow, or other impact: typically one in which the skin is cut or broken.
What causes wounds?
- mechanical injury
- falls etc
- immobility → bed sores/pressure injuries
- burn
- underlying medical condition
- chronic illness → people with Diabetes can get infected wounds after a knock or scratch
- infections → post surgery/insect bites
What factors should be considered when assessing wound healing?
- the age of the individual
- location of the wound
- medical factors - are they Diabetic?
- allergies - some people are allergic to plaster
- nutritional factors - malnourished heal slower
- shock + pain - may take longer to treat
- type of wound
- pre-existing injuries
- is it infected - slows healing
- the healing stage
- socioeconomic factors - can afford better care
- how deep is the wound?
What are the signs of a wound?
The signs of a wound are:
- a cut to the skin
- graze
- redness/swelling
What are the symptoms of necrosis?
- pain
- skin discolouration (redness, then through dark red/purple/black)
- swelling
- abnormal sensation i.e. tingling to then no sensation (numbness)
- skin appears hard, dry and waxy
- skin death and decomposition (gangrene)
What type of dressings should be used on a necrotic wound with low exudate?
- hydrocolloid
- hydrogel
What type of dressings should be used on a necrotic wound with moderate exudate?
- hydrocolloid
- foam
- hydrocolloid fibrous
What does a sloughy wound look like?
Sloughy wounds will have dead yellow or black/yellow tissue that needs to be removed
What types of dressing are suitable for a sloughy wound with low levels of exudate?
- hydrocolloid
- hydrogel
What types of dressings are suitable for a sloughy wound with moderate levels of exudate?
- hydrocolloid
- alginate
What types of dressings are suitable for a sloughy wound with heavy exudate?
- alginate
- capillary-acting
- hydrocolloid-fibrous
What is the appearance of a granulating wound?
Red/pink tissue which is moist in appearance.
What sort of dressings are suitable for a granulating wound with low levels of exudate?
- hydrocolloid
- low adherence
- soft polymer
- foam
What type of dressings are suitable for a granulating wound with moderate levels of exudate?
- hydrocolloid
- alginate
- foam
What type of dressings are suitable for a granulating wound with heavy exudate?
- alginate
- foam
- hydrocolloid
What does an epithelialising wound look like?
An epithelialising wound is pink tissue that is a regeneration of skin surface.
What sort of dressings are suitable for an epithelialising wound with low levels of exudate?
- low-adherence
- vapour-permeable firms and membranes
- soft polymer
- hydrocolloid
What type of dressings are suitable for epithelialising wounds with moderate levels of exudate?
- soft polymer
- foam
- alginate
What does an infected wound look like?
An infected wound will appear malodorous, oozing, infected with bacteria.
What type of dressings are suitable for wounds with signs of infection and low levels of exudate?
- honey
- low-adherence
- iodine
- hydrocolloid
What type of dressings are suitable for a wound with signs of infection and moderate levels of exudate?
- hydrocolloid
- foam
- honey
- alginate
- iodine
What type of dressings are suitable for a wound with suspected infection and heavy exudate?
- hydrocolloid
- foam
- alginate
What are the general roles of vitamin A within the body?
Vitamin A helps form and maintain healthy teeth, skeletal & soft tissue, mucous membranes & skin. It helps the body’s natural defence against illness and infection. It also helps vision in dim light.
What are common dietary sources of vitamin A?
- cheese
- eggs
- oily fish
- fortified low-fat spreads
- liver
- spinach
- carrots
- kale
- sweet potato
- red peppers
- mango
- papaya
What is vitamin A’s effect on wound healing?
- Aids cellular regeneration
- Reduces risk of infection by supporting proper immune function
What is the role of vitamin C?
Vitamin C is needed for growth and repair of tissues in all parts of your body. It is used to form an important protein used in making skin, tendons, ligaments and blood vessels. Heal wounds and form scar tissue.
What is vitamin C’s role in wound healing?
- important co-factor in collagen formation (for skin, tendons, ligaments, blood vessels).
- important for proper immune system function, as is anti-inflammatory
- antioxidant to inhibit damage to body cells
What are good dietary sources of vitamin C?
- oranges and orange juice
- red and green peppers
- strawberries
- blackcurrants
- broccoli
- brussel sprouts
- potatoes
What is the role of vitamin K?
Vitamin K is important for blood clotting to prevent excessive bleeding.
Who is most at risk of a vitamin K deficiencies?
- Newborn infants
- heavy drinkers
- those that are severely malnourished
- those with digestive disorders affecting absorption (crohn’s, coeliac)
What are good dietary sources of vitamin K?
Vitamin K is found in leafy greens, vegetable oils and cereal grains.
What is the role of zinc?
- Required for the function of over 300 enzymes
- All proliferating cells require zinc to function
- Processing carbohydrates, fat and protein in food
What is zinc’s role in wound healing?
- Zinc is involved in collagen and protein synthesis
- cell proliferation
- immune function
- blood clotting
What are good dietary sources of zinc?
- meat
- shellfish
- dairy products (such as cheese)
- bread
- cereal products
What are the roles of copper within the body?
- plays a role in making red blood cells
- helps the body form collagen
- important for neuron signalling
Why is copper specifically important for wound healing?
Too little copper can lead to neutropenia, which will reduce immune function resulting in increased risk of infection and risk to open wounds.
What are good dietary sources of copper?
- nuts
- shellfish
- offal
What are cytotoxic drugs?
Cytotoxic drugs are a group of medicines with contains substances toxic to cells inhibiting their growth or replication.
What are some conditions cytotoxic drugs are used to treat?
- cancers
- rheumatoid arthritis
- multiple sclerosis
How would taking cytotoxic drugs affect wound healing?
- cytotoxic drugs interfere with cell replication
- no proliferation of new healthy cells in wound healing
- dampen defence mechanisms
- increased infection risk
- strength of new tissue formed is reduced
What are risk factors (of the wound itself) for it to become infected?
- contaminated (dirt/pus/bodily fluids)
- there was something in the wound
- has a jagged edge
- is longer than 5cm
- caused by a bite (animal or human)
What are the symptoms of wound infection?
- swelling, redness and increased pain in the affected area
- pus forming in/around the wound
- feeling ‘generally unwell’
- high temperature (38°C)
- swollen glands