Alcohol Prep Pads | Medium 2-Ply - 200 Alcohol Wipes, individually wrapped Cotton Swabs | Disposable | Sterile, Saturated With 70% Alcohol

 Alcohol Prep Pads | Medium 2-Ply - 200 Alcohol Wipes, individually wrapped Cotton Swabs | Disposable | Sterile, Saturated With 70% Alcohol

•     STERILE– Alcohol pads are individually wrapped in foil packages, to maintain sterility and freshness for each use.
•     2-PLY – Wipes are Designed 2-ply allowing you to unfold pad for easy cleaning / sanitizing larger surfaces, in addition, prep pads are made with soft and thick material for effective use and prevent tearing.
•     SATURATED 70% – These swabs are saturated with 70% v/v Isopropyl Alcohol, pre-moistened, soft material for gentle use.
•     ANTISEPTIC - Ideal for use as a general first-aid solution, and for preparation of skin prior to blood tests and insulin or heparin injections.
•     VALUE PACK – 200 MEDIUM ALCOHOL WIPES PER BOX

Healing techniques, healing and infection control tips

A good dressing starts with a good preparation of the dressing cart. This must be thoroughly cleaned. The validity of all the material to be used must be checked. When there is a suspicion about the sterility of the material that should be sterile, it should be considered non-sterile and should be discarded. You should also check that the packages are well sealed and folded correctly.

The next step is an adequate preparation of the patient. This should be warned in advance that the dressing will be changed, the exchange being a simple procedure and that can cause minor discomfort. Dressings should not be changed at mealtime. If the patient is in a ward, curtains should be used to ensure the patient's privacy. This should be informed of the wound's improvement. These methods improve the collaboration of the patient during the dressing change, which will be faster and more efficient.

Hand washing with soap and water, which must be done before and after each dressing. The instruments to be used must be sterilized; it must be composed of at least one anatomical forceps, two hemostatics and a package of gazine; and all manipulation must be done through tweezers and gauze, avoiding direct contact and consequently less risk of infection.

A cleansing of the skin adjacent to the wound should be done, using a solution containing soap, to degrease the area, which will remove some pathogens and will also improve the fixation of the dressing to the skin. Cleaning should be done from the least contaminated area to the most contaminated area, avoiding back and forth movements. In surgical wounds, the most contaminated area is the skin located around the wound, while in infected wounds the most contaminated area is the inside of the wound.

Crusts and debris must be removed carefully; wash the wound with saline in a jet, or with aqueous PVPI (in infected wounds, when there is dirt and in the place where the central catheters are inserted); finally, fix the dressing with bandage or tape.

In some places the tape should not be used, due to motility (joints), the presence of hair (scalp) or secretions. In these places, bandages should be used. This should be placed in a way that does not loosen or compress too much. The bandaging of the limbs should start from the distal to the proximal region and should not bring any discomfort to the patient.

The tape should be placed over the center of the dressing first, then gently pressing down in both directions. This avoids excessive traction of the skin and future injuries.

The tape must be fixed over a clean area, free of hair, defatted and dry; brush the skin with benzoin tincture before applying the adhesive tape. The edges of the adhesive tape should extend 3 to 5 cm beyond the free edge of the dressing; the adherence of the dressing to the skin must be complete and without folds. In the joints, the adhesive should be placed at right angles, in the direction of movement.

During the execution of the dressing, the forceps must be pointed downwards, preventing contamination; one should use each gauze only once and avoid talking during the technical procedure.

The procedures for performing the dressing, must be established according to the function of the dressing and the degree of contamination of the place.

Obeying the characteristics described above, there are the following types of standardized dressings:

I - CLEAN DRESSING

a) Clean and closed wound

b) the clean and dry dressing must be kept occlusive for 24 hours.

c) after this period, the incision can be exposed and washed with soap and water.

d) use topical PVP-I only for ablation of the points.

II - DRAIN DRESSING

a) The drain dressing should be performed separately from the incision and the first one to be performed will always be the one from the least contaminated site.

b) The dressing with drains must be kept clean and dry. This means that the number of exchanges is directly related to the amount of drainage.

c) If there is a clean and closed incision, the dressing must be kept occlusive for 24 hours and after this period it can remain exposed and washed with soap and water.

d) Open drainage systems (eg penrose or tubular), must be kept occluded with a sterile bag or sterile gauze for 72 hours. After this period, the maintenance of the sterile bag is at the doctor's discretion.

e) Pins are not indicated as a means of avoiding the mobilization of penrose drains, as they easily rust and favor the colonization of the place.

f) The mobilization of the drain is at the physician's discretion.

g) Open system drains must be protected during the bath.

III - CONTAMINATED DRESSING

These standards are for infected wounds and open wounds or with loss of substance, with or without infection. Because these lesions are open, they are highly susceptible to exogenous contamination.

a) The dressing should be occlusive and kept clean and dry.

b) The number of dressing changes is directly related to the amount of drainage, and should be changed whenever wet to avoid colonization.

c) The dressing must be protected during the bath.

d) The wound must be cleaned mechanically with sterile saline solution.

e) Antisepsis should be performed with topical PVP-I.

f) Deodorant antiseptic solutions are contraindicated in open wounds, as the surfactants affect the permeability of cell membranes, produce hemolysis and are absorbed by proteins, interfering adversely in the healing process.

g) Sterile vaseline gauze is recommended in cases where there is a need to prevent tissue adhesion.

h) In wounds with purulent drainage, a weekly culture (swab) should be collected for microbiological monitoring.