Wound Care
Health professionals face challenges when healing wounds, and there are situations where diagnosis and choice of therapy is not always straightforward.
To assist with such questions, each Australian State or Territory has its own wound care association. The Australian Wound Management Association (AWMA) released a revised and updated 2nd edition of Standards for Wound Management at the 8th AWMA Conference in Perth in March, 2010. To order a copy: www.tinyyurl.com/2ebades
Wound infection results in impaired healing, increased hospitalisation, increased healthcare costs, loss of productivity, pain, inconvenience and, sometimes morbidity or even mortality. There is considerable research and development focused on new technologies and innovations to identify and manage wound infection. A Position Document, “Bacterial impact on wound healing: From contamination to infection”, published by AWMA provides a guide for practitioners and service providers in identification and management of wound infection. It is based on contemporary literature and other, existing international guidelines on the topic.
New research by the Wound Healing Laboratory at the Women's and Children's Health Research Institute in Adelaide is studying the molecular mechanisms involved in wound healing, especially how cells proliferate and adhere, and the key processes in the ability of a wound to re-epithelialise and heal. The Institute is also studying scar formation and fragile skin disorders.
The federal government recently announced funding for a Wound Management Innovation CRC to be established at the Queensland University of Technology. It will study ways of improving wound healing and quality of life for people with wounds, and provide cost-effective wound care that lessens the burden on the health system.
Australian Wound Management Association: www.awma.com.au
European Wound Management Association: www.ewma.org
Journal of Wound Care: www.journalofwoundcare.com/