S - SKIN INTEGRITY Tools & Resources

Cleanse pressure injury with each dressing change without harming healthy tissue on the wound bed:

1. use normal saline, sterile water, pH-balanced wound cleansers, lukewarm potable tap water.
2. use diluted sodium hypochlorite ¼ strength to ½ strength solution for wounds with heavy bioburden for a limited time only, until clinical evidence of bioburden is resolved.
3. use the following mechanical wound cleansing techniques to remove wound debris, exudates, surface pathogens, bacteria, and residue from topical creams and ointments.
4. 4–15 pounds per square inch (psi) pressure irrigation with angiocatheter attached to a syringe, spray bottle or pulsatile lavage.
5. gentle scrubbing of the wound bed with wet gauze.
6. cleanse peri-wound skin with normal saline, sterile water, pH-balanced skin cleanser, or lukewarm potable tap water with dressing changes.