Wound Care (Patient Counselling Guide)

A wound is defined as a break in the skin as a result of an injury, self-mutilation,surgery or physical trauma. It breaks the continuity of the skin, allowing organisms to enter the tissues. Agents that inflict wounds can be classified based on the depth of the wound and by the degree of the possibility that these will develop into an infection. The breakage of the skin barrier and the exposure of the underlying tissues to air lead to the penetration of bacteria into the tissues resulting in an infection. Some factors that contribute to the risk of infection include: the time lapse before the wound is treated, presence and type of foreign matter in the wound, location of the wound, injury to underlying structures eg, bone or muscle, presence of devitalized tissue,patient factors (eg, age, medical condition, nutritional status), and drug therapy.

* Click below to view Patient Counselling Guide in Thai