Biofilm Management Using a Wound Hygiene Protocol

Wound care professionals whose patients have hard-to-heal wounds work to prevent or treat biofilm formation and infection, for optimal clinical outcomes. Utilizing the wound hygiene protocol encourages consistent implementation of wound cleansing, debridement, refashioning of wound edges, and appropriate wound dressing selection. This strategy can reduce antibiotic prescriptions, lower overall wound-related costs, and improve quality of care for patients with chronic wounds. This white paper describes biofilm formation and the role of biofilms in delayed wound healing. An overview of the history, principles, and steps of the wound hygiene protocol is also presented.