Wound healing and immunocompromise

A better understanding of the physiology of wound healing has been the impetus for the development of a large number of wound care products. However, infection remains the primary deterrent to successful wound closure; often those factors (both internal and external) that make the patient more susceptible to infection also negatively affect the quality of any wound that does heal. Factors that contribute to immunocompromise significantly impact on wound inflammatory response and maturation. The nurse has an exciting and vital role now and in the future not only in supporting the patient's own immune defenses, but in promoting those factors that will hasten wound repair.