May 01, 2013
What do a nursing home resident's skin and a fruit fly's exoskeleton have in common? At first glance, not much. But it turns out that both are essentially a mesh of macromolecules that share similar signaling traits.
Researchers recently identified a molecular "switch" mechanism that takes place during successful wound care healing. The discovery is likely to aid in the understanding of how wounds get better, and fuel preventive treatments.
An Alabama nursing home that did not properly handle a resident with pressure sores on her feet is on the hook for Immediate Jeopardy fines of nearly $135,000, a federal appeals court recently affirmed.
April 01, 2013
Long-term care providers might want to think twice about including oxygen exposure in the treatment regimen for residents with diabetic foot ulcers. Oxygen treatment does not improve wound healing and may actually be harmful, according to new findings by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine.
Rice University scientists have determined that skin cells coordinate their motions as they race to cover and ultimately heal wounds. Investigators compared this motion to the way many birds swoop and flock in unison.
March 01, 2013
French researchers recently identified the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in maintaining skin cells and skin healing in advanced years. The discovery could lead to new innovations in wound care and skin-integrity preservation, they say.
The National Quality Forum (NQF) Board of Directors recently endorsed 12 patient safety measures with a focus on complications. The measures address pressure ulcers, falls, healthcare-associated infections and a range of quality concerns.
February 01, 2013
The biology that allows mussels to stick to underwater surfaces is providing insight to researchers looking at wound care.
January 01, 2013
Fish oil may help residents experience fewer pressure ulcers, according to researchers at Tel Aviv University in Israel.
Proline and arginine supplementation can help heal wounds in diabetic patients, according to a study published in the American Journal of Physiology - Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, published by the American Physiological Society.
Diabetes sufferers who also develop foot ulcers appear more likely to die prematurely, a new study warns. Investigators believe the findings highlight a potential need for improved detection and management of those with both issues.
December 01, 2012
Investigators have found that people who develop bedsores in a hospital were more likely to be readmitted within 30 days, stay at the hospital longer — and die.
November 01, 2012
Researchers have identified a new stem cell population in the skin epidermis that is responsible for tissue repair. The finding could lead to new wound care treatments, they say.
Researchers have discovered a previously unknown function for a protein that could add to the arsenal of inflammation-fighting drugs.
October 01, 2012
Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute have uncovered a molecular interaction between two cell types that may play a key role in wound healing. Their discovery could lead to quicker wound healing options.
Many people with diabetes wear shoes that may contribute to pressure ulcer formation, according to Dutch investigators. Their simple solution: better-designed footwear that actually offloads pressure.
A multidisciplinary approach to wound care will become increasingly important in the years ahead, according to those at the annual meeting of the American College of Wound Healing and Tissue Repair.
September 01, 2012
A "spray-on skin" could help treat leg ulcers more effectively than traditional wound dressings, according to recent tests.
August 01, 2012
University of Wisconsin researchers have demonstrated how an ultra-thin layer of polymer impregnated with a surgical antibacterial can help healing by preventing infection.
A comprehensive literature review has revealed new perspective for the care of chronic and other wounds. Full findings appear in the British Journal of Surgery.
Poor treatment of infected foot wounds in people with diabetes can lead to lower extremity amputation, and about 50% of patients who have foot amputations die within five years — a mortality rate that's worse than most cancers.
Swedish researchers are about to start clinical tests for a medication that appears to help wounds heal more quickly.
The National Alliance of Wound Care has announced the launch of a new publication, the Wound Care Advisor.
June 06, 2012
As wound care treatment costs continue to escalate, an unprecedented effort is underway to learn more about the ways wounds develop and can be best treated.
May 01, 2012
Provider documentation is the key to avoiding costly wound care mishaps in a nursing facility, an expert attorney explained at a McKnight's Online Expo session.
University of California investigators recently documented one reason why wounds tend to heal more slowly in women: estrogen levels.
April 02, 2012
Now that the Food & Drug Administration has approved Smith & Nephew's PICO device for the treatment of wounds, the firm is hoping the pocket-sized device delivers a big payoff.
Researchers have successfully combined bioactive peptides in an effort to stimulate wound healing. Investigators tested a newly-created peptide on patients with uncontrolled diabetes.
March 01, 2012
The rate of foot and leg amputations in diabetics over the age of 40 fell 65% between 1996 and 2008, according to a recent report.
Manuka honey may help clear chronic wound infections and tackle the bacteria that delays healing, Cardiff University researchers have found.
February 01, 2012
Residents with wounds that won't heal also might have undiagnosed immune system problems such as rheumatoid arthritis, according to investigators at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington.
The Food & Drug Administration recently sent a "major deficiency letter" to Sanuwave. Federal regulators said the company's application for a noninvasive foot therapy to treat diabetic foot ulcers lacked important product safety information.
January 03, 2012
California researchers may have found an unlikely key to unlocking the secrets of wound healing in humans: the roundworm.
An app for wound care? Yes, one is coming soon. The National Science Foundation recently awarded $1.2 million to the Worcester Polytechnic Institute to develop a smartphone app that helps people with advanced diabetes and foot ulcers manage their care better.
December 01, 2011
Three conditions must be present for a diabetic foot ulcer to heal without amputation, according to new findings of Swedish researchers.
Mechanical forces affect the growth and remodeling of blood vessels during tissue regeneration and wound healing, a new study concludes. Such forces diminish or enhance the vascularization process and tissue regeneration depending on when they are applied during the healing process.
November 01, 2011
Apax Partners' planned $6.3 billion leveraged buyout of wound firm Kinetic Concepts Inc. hit another bump at press time. The latest challenge: a debt crisis in Europe is causing havoc with credit markets.
Biomaterials likely will play a larger role in helping chronic wounds heal among diabetics, according to experts who spoke at the European Conference on Biomaterials in Dublin.
November 01, 2011
Susan Wickard, RN, BSN, CWCN, CWS, CLNC, Clinical Advisor, American Association for LTC Nursing
October 01, 2011
Many residents arrive in nursing homes with pressure sores they obtained while hospitalized. A new study offers a solution: Hospitals should invest in pressure-reduction mattresses for elderly patients in emergency departments.
Swiss researchers from the Technology in Textiles (TechinTex) project are working on a new type of wound dressing that could make it easier for providers to monitor how fast a wound is actually healing.
A bandage that changes colors to reveal wound healing is being created by an Australian researcher. Once brought to market, the invention could help treat chronic wounds and lower caregiving costs, advocates claim.
August 02, 2011
Black nursing home residents are more likely than white residents to develop pressure wounds, a new study reveals. Researchers say this finding is consistent with previous studies that suggest disparities are due to differences in care between nursing homes with predominantly black or white residents. In this study, researchers from the University of Iowa investigated whether quality improvement efforts led by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services have helped lessen this disparity.
July 01, 2011
University of California at Los Angeles researchers recently showed that hydrogen peroxide plays a central role in wound healing.
Tissue grafts that promote vascular growth could hasten wound healing, encourage healthy skin to invade the wounded area and reduce the need for surgeries, investigators at Cornell University recently showed.
June 01, 2011
Non-healing venous stasis wounds present a major caregiving challenge in many facilities. But a treatment approach based on packing the wounds with cotton candy-like fibers showed stunning results, according to a recent study.
More than one in seven nursing homes receive survey citations for problems related to infection control, a study backed by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology has found.
May 02, 2011
Honey can be effective in helping to reverse antibiotic resistance, in addition to clearing infected wounds, investigators have found.
Researchers at King's College London and Osaka University in Japan have identified the chemical that summons stem cells from bone marrow to wound sites. The discovery could lead to new leg ulcer treatments, they said.
April 01, 2011
Advanced technological approaches to treating venous leg ulcers are no match for good quality nursing care and perhaps a few good jokes, new research suggests.
