[Chronic wound management in hospital care units--a literature review]

Chronic wounds are a major health problem, which nurses are dealing with daily. However, weak agreement exists with the dressing technique on chronic wounds. The practices described are often imprecise and even controversial. At least four procedures are depicted for this practice in Switzerland. This search of evidence is conduct on the dressing technique on chronic wounds in hospital care units. The debate on this issue is depicted and the terms of sterile and non sterile bandage are defined. The scientific and professional literature analyzed to determine the level of proof of the existing data does not state that one of both techniques--sterile versus non sterile--is more adequate than the other, for the chronic wounds management in hospital environment. The principles formulated on the basis of this literature review are therefore based on the experts' opinion.