Wound Care and Moist Wound Healing (ANTT, TIME)

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering key wound healing concepts, techniques, dressings, and assessment terms from the lecture notes.

Moist Wound Healing

A healing environment where the wound is kept moist to support autolysis, debridement, epithelial migration, and transport of oxygen/nutrients; promotes faster healing and can reduce pain and scarring and infection risk compared with a dry wound.

ANTT (Aseptic Non-Touch Technique)

A method to prevent wound contamination by avoiding contact with critical wound areas or sterile fields while performing care.

Debridement

Removal of non-viable or devitalised tissue from a wound to promote healing; methods include surgical, sharp, mechanical, biological/larval, autolytic, and enzymatic.

Slough

Devitalised, often moist yellow tissue in a wound bed that impedes healing.

Necrosis

Dead tissue within a wound; non-viable and needs removal for healing.

Eschar

Thick, dry dead tissue, often black, that forms a covering over a wound.

Granulating tissue

New connective tissue and microvasculature filling a wound bed during healing.

Epithelialising tissue

New epithelial cells forming at wound edges, enabling wound closure.

Biofilm

A structured community of microorganisms encased in a protective matrix; more resistant to antibiotics and common in wounds (e.g., S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, β-hemolytic streptococci).

Contamination

Presence of non-replicating microorganisms on a wound surface.

Colonisation

Presence of replicating microorganisms on a wound without causing tissue damage.

Local infection / Critical colonisation

An intermediate stage with microbial replication and beginning local tissue responses.

Invasive infection

Replicating microorganisms within a wound causing host tissue injury.

Signs of infection

Pain, heat, redness, swelling, purulence; may include fever, leukocytosis, odour, delayed healing, friable tissue.

Bacterial wound swab technique

Clean the wound, avoid edges, rotate the swab in a zig-zag motion across the wound bed, then place the swab in the collection container.

Wound Bed Preparation (TIME)

TIME = Tissue management, Inflammation/Infection control, Moisture balance, Edge advancement.

Tissue management

Identify and remove non-viable tissue (slough, necrosis, eschar) and assess viable versus non-viable tissue to guide debridement.

Debridement methods (overview)

Surgical, sharp, mechanical, biological/larval, autolytic, and enzymatic approaches to remove non-viable tissue.

Moisture balance

Maintaining an optimal moisture level in the wound bed to support healing and control exudate.

Edge advancement

Proliferation and migration of epidermal cells from the wound edge to achieve epithelialisation and wound closure.

NPWT (Negative Pressure Wound Therapy)

A therapy applying controlled negative pressure to the wound to promote granulation and wound closure.

Growth factors

Biological signals that promote cell proliferation and tissue regeneration in wound healing.

Hydrogel dressings

Water-based dressings that rehydrate dry wounds and maintain a moist healing environment.

Hydrocolloid dressings

Moisture-retaining dressings that absorb modest exudate, support epithelialisation, and protect peri-wound tissue; may affect bacteria growth if overused.

Alginate dressings

Seaweed-derived dressings that are highly absorbent; form a gel with wound exudate and support moist healing.

Hydrofibre dressings

Absorbent wound dressings that expand as they absorb exudate, forming a gel-like matrix.

Foam dressings

Absorptive dressings suitable for moderate to high exudate; provide a moist environment and can be non-adherent.

Transparent film dressings

Semi-permeable coverings that maintain a moist surface, protect from external contamination, and allow vapor diffusion; not ideal for heavily exuding wounds.

Silicone dressings

Soft, conformable dressings that are atraumatic on removal and suitable for wounds with moderate exudate or infection control when appropriate antibiotics are used.

Non-adherent dressings

Dressings that do not stick to the wound bed to minimize trauma during dressing changes.

Hydration and exudate management

Balancing wound moisture and exudate to prevent desiccation or maceration, supporting efficient healing.

Wound assessment

Documentation of wound type, location, size, bed condition, signs of infection, pain, comorbidities, and adherence to treatment to guide care.

Hypergranulation (overgranulation)

Excessive granulation tissue that can impede epithelialisation and wound closure; may require management such as barrier dressings or debulking.