(CS-060) Wound Washing: Using Digital Fluorescence to Break Down the Mechanics of Cleansing

Introduction: Wound cleansing is an integral step in healing that is so routine as to run the risk of becoming overlooked. While wound treatment modalities continue to progress in ever expanding directions, the foundational importance of cleansing a wound is the base on which all these advancements succeed. Yet, wound cleansing techniques are highly variable depending on the clinician. This study seeks to provide visual evidence that can assist in reflecting on one’s own practice as well as helping translate those best practices into language based guidance for other caretakers.

Methods: This experiment used digital fluorescence imaging to evaluate the efficacy and relationship between multiple variables within the wound cleansing process. A series of controlled experiments examined various cleansing media at differing saturations with duration of cleanse, direction of motion and pressure of application. These variables were applied to a control of pseudomonas aeruginosa on a synthetic template and recorded. These findings were then arranged as images in an X/Y table to illustrate how the variables interacted.

Results: Sometimes it is difficult to parse whether a clinical decision is being made out of habit. In these results, an attempt was made to isolate the individual components that constitute wound cleansing and visually assess the role of each. By itemizing these variables, clinicians may better understand the mechanics of what may have become muscle memory in their practice. The results of these experiments were arranged in X/Y graphing format to allow for efficient cross reference of variables and highlight standouts amongst them. Further effort was also placed on developing language based interpretations of the data to allow for sharing of the information in instructional settings where images aren’t readily available.

Discussion: In conclusion, based on the results of these experiments, we can assess the nuances of multiple wound cleansing techniques and materials. The variability of the study will hopefully assist clinicians in identifying the pros and cons of their own process, and the focus of language as a tool offers a resource for communicating these insights to others.