Alternative Wound Management: Translating Science into Practice.

GENERAL PURPOSE: To present a scoping review of preclinical and clinical trial evidence supporting the efficacy and/or safety of major alternative wound care agents to summarize their effects on validated elements of wound bed preparation and wound management paradigms. TARGET AUDIENCE: This continuing education activity is intended for physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and nurses with an interest in skin and wound care. LEARNING OBJECTIVES/OUTCOMES: After participating in this educational activity, the participant will:1. Differentiate the effectiveness of the topical wound care agents included in this review.2. Compare the preventive efficacy of intravenous agents administered to trauma and surgical patients.3. Select the effectiveness of products in this review that are left in place after surgical procedures.4. Identify an oral agent that can be helpful in mitigating the effects of COVID-19.

Effective wound healing is achieved by well-timed host, cell, and environment interactions involving hemostasis, inflammation, formation of repaired dermal structures, and epithelialization, followed by months to years of scar remodeling. Globally, various natural or synthetic agents or dressings are used to optimize wound environments, prolong drug release, aid in fluid absorption, provide favorable healing environments, and act as a mechanical barrier against wound trauma. In this scoping review of evidence from the PubMed and clinicaltrials.gov databases, authors examined clinical study evidence supporting the efficacy and safety of selected phytochemicals, vehicles, polymers, and animal products considered "naturally derived" or "alternative" wound interventions to provide a summary of preclinical evidence. Agents with the most clinical evidence were honey, alginates, polyurethane, gelatin, and dextran. Practice implications are described in the context of the TIMERS clinical paradigm.

Practice Implications from the WCET® International Ostomy Guideline 2020.

GENERAL PURPOSE: To introduce the 15 recommendations of the International Ostomy Guideline (IOG) 2020, covering the four key arenas of education, holistic aspects, and pre- and postoperative care; and to summarize key concepts for clinicians to customize for translation into their practice. TARGET AUDIENCE: This continuing education activity is intended for physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and nurses with an interest in skin and wound care. LEARNING OBJECTIVES/OUTCOMES: After participating in this educational activity, the participant will:1. Analyze supporting evidence for the education recommendations in the IOG 2020.2. Identify a benefit of the International Charter of Ostomate Rights.3. Distinguish concepts related to pre- and postoperative ostomy-related care.4. Select a potential barrier to IOG 2020 guideline implementation.

The second edition of the WCET® International Ostomy Guideline (IOG) was launched in December 2020 as an update to the original guideline published in 2014. The purpose of this article is to introduce the 15 recommendations covering four key arenas (education, holistic aspects, and pre- and postoperative care) and summarize key concepts for clinicians to customize for translation into their practice. The article also includes information about the impact of the novel coronavirus 2019 on ostomy care.