Page 58 - policy and procedure infection control

Policies and Procedures on Infection Control

4.3 Wound Care

The need for dressing or wound care depends on the type of wound, which includes incision
wound, abrasions, bedsores, ulcers, wound at site of drains and others.
The attending physician may require different wound technique for each type of wound. However,
the choice of wound dressing should be large enough to cover and protect the wound site and
tissue around it. It should allow circulation of air to the skin, secured to prevent slippage and is
comfortable for the patient.

4.3.1 General principles of wound care
1. Hand hygiene
Proper hand hygiene before and after attending to a wound is mandatory. Sterile
gloves should be worn after performing hand hygiene before starting the procedure.
2. Technique
• Practice a ‘non-touch’ technique. All instruments used during wound dressing
must be sterile or autoclaved.
• Use sterile water as a cleaning liquid unless some other solution is recommended
by doctor.
• Cover the entire wound and do not exposed the wound to prevent bacterial
contamination. Use non adhesive gauze that promotes wound healing.
• Used gloves and soiled dressing must be properly disposed off into the clinical
waste plastic bag.
3. Environment
• Maintain a clean environment to minimize dust. High dusting or vacuum cleaning
should finish an hour before dressing round begins.
• Infected wound must be detected early. To prevent spread, precautions such as
cohorting the patient may be required.
• Wound care in the ward should begin with the uninfected wound first, then followed
by the infected or dirty ones.

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