Thursday: Skin integrity and wound infection

Fiona Downie, Senior Lecturer, Anglia Ruskin University

​​​The focus of this zone is on maintaining skin integrity and the prevention/management of bacterial ingress into the tissues.

Learning outcomes:
At the end of the session, delegates will: 

• Understand the skin barrier function
• Be aware of the role of emollients and skin care practices in preserving skin integrity
• Appreciate how entry of bacteria from the skin into broken tissue can increase local bioburden and contribute to biofilm formation
• Recognise the role of wound cleansing in removing debris and devitalised tissue and managing biofilm

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