Exudate, infection and patient quality of life

Efficient and cost-effective management of excessive wound exudate continues to present unique challenges to nurses. Accurate patient and wound assessment is essential to inform the treatment and selection of suitable dressings. The wide range of modern wound management products should be sufficient to meet the needs of every wound type at all phases of healing, and as circumstances change. However, there are still situations in which nurses are having to change dressings a number of times in 24 hours to prevent maceration (i.e. the softening and whitening of skin that is kept constantly wet), soiling, and the potential for cross-infection. There is no easy solution to the problem, but as nurses become more knowledgeable about identifying and managing the causes of excessive exudate, the available management options, and, as dressing materials become more sophisticated, practice should improve in this area.