Biofilm Management and Infection

For this month's WoundSource Practice Accelerator series, we are providing education on a variety of topics related to the management of biofilm and wound infection. Scroll below to read this month's white paper and articles, to print out our quick fact sheet, and to sign up for this month's webinar.

Upcoming Webinar

Managing Biofilm and Infection

Thursday, January 25

Kelly McFee, DNP, FNP-C, CWS, CWCN-AP, FACCWS, DAPWCA

The speaker will review approaches to biofilm and infection, including culture, cleansing, various antimicrobials, debridement types and techniques. This presentation will include various examples of when these strategies had a positive impact on outcomes, followed by a live Q&A and discussion.

White Paper

Current and Emerging Antibiofilm Strategies

Biofilm is a common culprit of stalled wound healing. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate bacteria that generate biofilm cause 65% of all human infectious diseases. This white paper will detail strategies and products to manage biofilm, such as debridement, negative pressure wound therapy with instillation (NPWTi), bacteriophage therapy, nanomaterials, blue light therapy, quorum-sensing inhibitors, matrix-degrading enzymes, peptides, medical honey, and surfactants....

Fact Sheet

Quick Facts - Biofilm and Infection

Management of infection and biofilm can be challenging for both wound care professionals and patients. An understanding of how biofilm develops and the various treatment options available can offer some relief from this challenge. For those managing chronic wounds with suspected biofilm and other barriers resulting from microorganism involvement, this fact sheet provides several pearls to mitigate these wound care obstacles....

Featured Articles

Biofilm: What is it?

When a wound becomes chronic after the clinician(s) has addressed underlying conditions, biofilm is often suspected. Biofilm complicates the detection and treatment of what otherwise might be manageable bacteria. This quick-forming, tenacious bacterial community is typically resistant to standard of...

Biofilm Versus Infection: How Interventions Differ

In this interview, Emily Greenstein, APRN discusses the ways how biofilm and infection differ, including what they are, how management practices vary, and which wound bed preparation factors are the most vital....

Unveiling Fungal Biofilms in Chronic Wounds: More than Just Bacteria

As a physical barrier, the skin is teeming with various microorganisms that form the microbiome, such as fungi, bacteria, and viruses. The clinical understanding of the chronic wound microbiome continues to advance. Conventionally, bacteria are the first type of organism that comes to mind when cons...

Culturing 101

Dot Weir, RN CWON, CWS discusses the basics of culturing including: When to culture a wound, what techniques wound care professionals can use, what information culturing provides, and much more. ...

Smith+Nephew, Inc.

For over 150 years, Smith+Nephew has taken a pioneering approach to product design and services, helping to reduce the human and economic costs of wounds.

Quiz

How Much Do You Know About Biofilm and Infection?

Important Terms to Know

Important Terms to Know: Biofilm and Infection

Biofilm: A complex microbial community containing bacteria and fungi. The microorganisms synthesize and secrete a protective matrix that attaches the biofilm firmly to a living or non-living surface. The biofilm contributes to underlying wound infection, chronic inflammation, and delay in healing, and it is much more prevalent in chronic wounds than in acute wounds.