Quick Facts - Infection Control and Wound Management

Chronic wounds, more recently also referred to as "hard-to-heal wounds," are common, costly, and debilitating. Factors that delay healing of these wounds include wound etiology and comorbidities, wound size and depth, anatomic location of the wound, wound duration, and the presence of a biofilm. Biofilms are identified in more than 80% of chronic wounds. To support wound healing progress, biofilms must be removed. As part of a wound hygiene protocol, debridement disrupts biofilm and promotes wound healing, but this treatment must be repeated throughout the healing trajectory because biofilm recurs persistently. This fact sheet is packed with the latest information on biofilms, debridement, and wound hygiene. Health care professionals who treat patients with chronic wounds will appreciate this useful resource. The fact sheet covers the following topics:"Chronic" wounds versus "hard-to-heal" woundsContributors to wound chronicityBiofilm composition, formation, and pathogenicityThe role of debridement in biofilm disruptionTypes of debridementSteps in wound hygiene