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Does moist wound healing influence the rate of infection?

Maggie Slater1

  • 1Independent Specialist Nurse, England.

British Journal of Nursing (Mark Allen Publishing)
|December 2, 2008
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Modern wound dressings do not increase infection rates compared to traditional ones. Evidence suggests no significant difference in infection rates, challenging concerns about moist wound healing environments.

Area of Science:

  • Healthcare-associated infections
  • Wound healing
  • Infection control

Background:

  • Wound infections represent 9% of all healthcare-associated infections.
  • Traditional wound dressings offer limited microbial protection but remain widely used.
  • Modern dressings promote moist wound healing, raising concerns about potential infection increases.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review existing evidence on moist wound healing and its impact on infection rates.
  • To compare infection rates between modern and traditional wound dressings.

Main Methods:

  • A systematic review of 14 studies was conducted from an initial pool of 36.
  • Identified methodological limitations include varied infection measurement, small sample sizes, and inconsistent study designs.

Main Results:

  • No increase in wound infection rates was observed with modern dressings compared to traditional ones.
  • Statistical analysis did not reveal a significant reduction in infections when using modern dressings.
  • The protective barrier effect of modern dressings is not universally applicable to all types.

Conclusions:

  • Modern wound dressings are not associated with increased infection rates in wounds.
  • Current evidence does not statistically support modern dressings as superior in preventing infections.
  • The effectiveness of modern dressings as a microbial barrier varies and cannot be generalized.

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