Amniotic membrane in wound healing: new perspectives.

There are several reasons for skin damage, including genetic factors, disorders, acute trauma, hard-to-heal wounds, or surgical interventions. Whatever the cause, wounds have a substantial impact on people who experience them, their caregivers and the healthcare system. Advanced wound care products have been researched and developed, providing an opportunity for faster and more complete healing. Tissue engineering (TE) is a promising strategy that can overcome limitations when choosing a graft for a wound. Amniotic membrane is a highly abundant, readily available, and inexpensive biological tissue that does not raise ethical concerns, with many applications in different fields of TE and regenerative medicine. It has attractive physical characteristics, such as elasticity, rigidity and mechanical strength, among others. The effects can also be potentiated by association with other substances, such as hyaluronic acid and growth factors. This paper describes new perspectives involving the use of amniotic membranes.

Accuracy of infrared thermography evaluation in burn wound healing: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Accurate assessment of burn depth and burn wound healing potential is essential to determine early treatments. Infrared thermography (IRT) is a non-invasive and objective tool to do this. This systematic review evaluated the accuracy of IRT to determine burn wound healing potential. METHOD: This systematic review and meta-analysis used MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PEDro, DiTA and CENTRAL databases. IRT data were extracted from primary studies and categorised into four cells (i.e., true positives, false positives, true negatives and false negatives). Subgroup analysis was performed according to methods used to capture thermal images. RESULTS: The search strategy identified 2727 publications; however, 15 articles were selected for review and 11 for meta-analysis. In our meta-analysis, the accuracy of IRT was 84.8% (63% sensitivity and 81.9% specificity). CONCLUSION: IRT is a moderately accurate tool to identify burn depth and healing potential. Thus, IRT should be used carefully for evaluating burn wounds.

Relationship between nutritional goals and pressure injuries in critical care patients receiving enteral nutrition.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between pressure injury (PI) development and achievement of nutritional goals (protein and caloric), as well as consider the clinical conditions, hospitalisation factors, and risk assessment for PI development in patients who are critically ill and receiving enteral nutrition (EN) in the intensive care unit (ICU). METHOD: An observational cohort study was conducted in the ICU of the University Hospital in São Paulo, Brazil. Inclusion criteria were as follows: age ≥18 years; length of ICU stay ≥24 hours; without PI at ICU admission; and receiving EN exclusively during ICU stay. The development of PI was considered the dependent variable. The Chi-squared test was applied to compare categorical variables, and the Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare continuous variables between groups of patients with and without a PI. The analysis of the achievement of nutritional goals was performed using Fisher's exact test. A significance level of 5% (p-value<0.05) and a confidence interval (CI) of 95% was adopted in all statistical tests. RESULTS: A total of 181 patients met the inclusion criteria, of whom 102 (56.4%) were male and 79 (43.6%) were female. Mean age was 55.1 years, and mean length of ICU stay was 17.5 days. PI development was associated with not achieving nutritional goals. There was a higher percentage (65.3%) of patients without a PI when both protein and caloric goals were achieved. In contrast, 45.6% of patients developed a PI when the goals were not achieved. The mean days for sedation, vasoactive drugs and mechanical ventilation were all significantly higher in patients who developed a PI (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: There was a significant association between patients developing a PI and deficits in caloric and protein intake. Patients who did not develop PIs had a greater calorie and protein intake compared with those who developed a PI.

Nutritional factors and pressure injury risk in hospitalised patients post-stroke.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to analyse the nutritional factors and pressure injury (PI) risk in hospitalised patients post-stroke. METHOD: The research employed a descriptive observational method in which patients ≥18 years of age were followed for six days. Nutritional evaluation was based on anthropometric and dietary factors. The nutritional risk was assessed via anthropometric measurements, Braden nutrition subscale and daily dietary intake. PI risk was evaluated through the Braden Scale. The Wilcoxon test, paired t-test, and Kruskal-Wallis test were applied and corrected with Bonferroni correction or analysis of variance, followed by the post hoc Tukey test. RESULTS: During their hospital stays, the participating 59 patients had an increase in sensory perception (p=0.02) and nutrition (p=0.005) scores. It was observed that patients at high risk of PI did not meet daily nutritional recommendations for calories, proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and micronutrients (zinc, selenium and copper) compared with patients at low-to-moderate risk. Weight (p<0.001), body mass index (p<0.001), calf (p=0.01) and arm (p=0.04) circumferences, and subscapular (p=0.003) and triceps (p<0.001) skinfolds decreased during the six days of hospitalisation. CONCLUSION: From the findings of this study, it was concluded that nutritional factors, such as unmet recommended daily nutritional requirements of macronutrients and micronutrients, and nutritional status are associated with a higher risk of developing a PI.

Scalp wound management: a narrative review from a neurosurgical perspective.

OBJECTIVE: This article aims to present a narrative review of current literature about the anatomical characteristics of the scalp as well as current practices in the management of surgical, traumatic and pressure injuries in the scalp, which are common in neurosurgery practice. METHOD: We searched PubMed for publications and book chapters in English from 2011 to 2021. We also included commonly referenced papers that we considered relevant to the subject with publication before these dates. We used the search terms 'laceration,' and/or 'neurosurgery' and/or, 'pressure injury,' and/or 'craniotomy,' and/or 'surgical incision' in combination with 'scalp,' and/or 'wound care.' We also searched the reference lists of publications identified by the search strategy and selected those that we judged relevant. RESULTS: We pre-selected 52 articles that covered various aspects of anatomy, pathophysiology, scalp wound management, or general wound care that we considered applied to the anatomical region of our interest. After abstract review, we selected 34 articles that met our search criteria and were included in our review. CONCLUSION: There is limited evidence regarding classification and care of scalp wounds. As a result, many of the current practices for scalp wound management are based on evidence derived from studies involving different anatomical regions, not considering its particular anatomy, vasculature and microbiome. Further research is needed for more comprehensive and effective protocols for the management of scalp injuries. However, this present review proposes responses to the identified gaps concerning the management of scalp wounds.

Role of Silver Nitrate Spray for Skin Wound Care in Patients with Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis: Our Experience in 4 Patients.

Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are examples of severe cutaneous adverse reactions to drugs (SCARs) with several international recommendations for global medical management, ranging from pharmacological systemic therapy to skin wound care. There is no defined best management of the skin wounds in SJS/TEN. The care of wounds is essential to initiate re-epithelialization. Our objective is to improve the cicatrization process, avoiding scarring due to deepening of the wounds, as well as prevent infections, achieve pain control, and avoid loss of serum proteins, fluids, and electrolytes. In this retrospective case series, we highlight the value of systemic therapy and the use of silver nitrate for wound management in four patients with TEN.

An oxygen-releasing agent promotes healing of skin wounds in rats.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the local effect of a slow oxygen-release gel on the healing of standardised skin wounds caused in rats. METHOD: Skin wounds were created on the backs of male rats (Rattus norvegicus, Wistar) that were randomly allocated into two groups. In the treated (T) and control (C) groups, oxygen gel and distilled water, respectively, were applied to the wounds on alternate days for 28 days. Postoperatively, euthanasia was performed at 5, 10, 14, 21 and 28 days, followed by clinical, histological (Masson's trichrome) and immunohistochemical analysis. Data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Bonferroni's test. RESULTS: The cohort comprised 50 rats. On clinical and histological analysis, groups C and T showed similar characteristics 5 days post-operation. Subsequently, group T showed better healing at 14, 21 and 28 days and presented more intense inflammatory infiltrate up to 10 days. At days 14, 21 and 28, group T exhibited a reduction in oedema and increased angiogenesis, granulation tissue formation, and deposition of collagen fibres than group C. Immunohistochemical analysis showed the presence of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in both the groups, but the levels were significantly higher in group T (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The local application of slow oxygen-release gel accelerated the healing of standardised skin wounds created surgically in rats, with increased angiogenesis and better collagen fibre formation.

Treatment of fungal infection on left ventricle assist device driveline exit site: a case report and systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: The use of ventricular assist devices (VAD) is increasing; however, diagnosis and management of device complications, such as the driveline exit site (DES) being the portal of entry for fungal infection, is not well known. METHOD: A systematic review involving searching PubMed (2005 to July 2020) was conducted. The case of a 43-year-old female patient who had a left VAD (LVAD) (HeartMate 3, Abbott, US) is also reported. RESULTS: The patient was successfully treated with ketoconazole cream and oral fluconazole for likely superficial DES fungal infections. We included 36 studies that met our inclusion criteria; however, only one was included in our review. In the literature, five cases of DES fungal infection were reported, with Candida being the only fungal pathogen. CONCLUSION: LVAD fungal infections are uncommon but can be responsible for high mortality rates, require a prolonged period of treatment, and can present a huge problem when surgical alternatives are not available. However, Candida species are most common. Fungal infections can only produce clear discharge, and so the classic definition of driveline infection based on purulent secretion can vary. Negative skin culture does not exclude the diagnosis of infection of the DES, and so empirical diagnosis may only be clinically based.

Predictive validity of the EVARUCI scale to evaluate risk for pressure injury in critical care patients.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the predictive capacity of the current risk assessment scale for pressure ulcers in intensive care (EVARUCI), translated into Brazilian Portuguese, using the Braden scale. METHOD: This cross-sectional study collected prospective data from adult patients in three intensive care units. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and precision-recall curve (PR curve) were used to analyse the predictive capacity for pressure injury (PI) using both predictive values and odds ratios (ORs). RESULTS: The incidence of PIs in the study sample of 324 patients was 14.2%. The area under the ROC curve was 0.807 for EVARUCI and 0.798 for the Braden scale. At a cutoff point of 10 on the EVARUCI scale, sensitivity was 69.6%; specificity 78.4%; positive predictive value 34.8%; and OR 8.3. At a cutoff point of 11 on the Braden scale, sensitivity was 76.1%; specificity 75.9%; positive predictive value 34.3%; and OR 10. The area under the PR curve was 0.396 for the EVARUCI scale and 0.348 for the Braden scale, reflecting a smaller area for both. The F1 score value was 0.476 with 37.5% precision and 65.2% recall for the EVARUCI scale, and 0.473 with 34.3% precision and 76.1% recall for the Braden scale. CONCLUSION: The EVARUCI scale predictive capacity was similar to that of the Braden scale. However, the precision of both scales was low for the accurate prediction of patients at risk of developing PIs.

Exosomes: A Promising Strategy for Repair, Regeneration and Treatment of Skin Disorders.

The skin is the organ that serves as the outermost layer of protection against injury, pathogens, and homeostasis with external factors; in turn, it can be damaged by factors such as burns, trauma, exposure to ultraviolet light (UV), infrared radiation (IR), activating signaling pathways such as Toll-like receptors (TLR) and Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2), among others, causing a need to subsequently repair and regenerate the skin. However, pathologies such as diabetes lengthen the inflammatory stage, complicating the healing process and, in some cases, completely inhibiting it, generating susceptibility to infections. Exosomes are nano-sized extracellular vesicles that can be isolated and purified from different sources such as blood, urine, breast milk, saliva, urine, umbilical cord bile cells, and mesenchymal stem cells. They have bioactive compounds that, thanks to their paracrine activity, have proven to be effective as anti-inflammatory agents, inducers of macrophage polarization and accelerators of skin repair and regeneration, reducing the possible complications relating to poor wound repair, and prolonged inflammation. This review provides information on the use of exosomes as a promising therapy against damage from UV light, infrared radiation, burns, and skin disorders.

Professional development and academic satisfaction from a wound programme in Latin America: 10 years of experience.

OBJECTIVE: Latin America had only one Spanish-speaking postgraduate academic programme on managing wounds and ostomies until 2021. Since then, two more programmes have been developed; one in Colombia and another in Mexico. Therefore, studying alumni outcomes becomes highly relevant. We aimed to describe the alumni's professional development and academic satisfaction from a Wound, Ostomy and Burn Therapy postgraduate programme in Mexico City, Mexico. METHOD: An electronic survey was sent to all alumni from January-July 2019 from the School of Nursing of Universidad Panamericana. Employability, academic development and satisfaction following completion of the academic programme were evaluated. RESULTS: From 88 respondents, 77 of whom were nurses, 86 (97.7%) answered that they were working, and 86.4% were working in an area related to the studied programme. Regarding general satisfaction, 88% were totally satisfied/satisfied with the programme and 93.2% would recommend it. CONCLUSION: Alumni from the Wound, Ostomy and Burn Therapy postgraduate programme are satisfied with the academic curriculum and have good professional development, demonstrated by a high employment rate.

Topical formulation containing chitosan-chamomile microparticles in cutaneous wound healing in rats.

Objective: The aim of this research was to evaluate the efficacy of a topical formulation containing chitosan-chamomile microparticles in cutaneous healing in rats. Method: Male Wistar rats (n=57) were randomly distributed into three groups: treatment; vehicle; and control. Evaluations were performed on days 2, 7 and 14 after the surgical procedure using skin lesion photography, and histological and biochemical analyses. Results: The results showed that there was no difference in the healing index and in the histological analysis of the inflammatory infiltrate among groups. Fibrogenesis was more significant in the group treated with the test formulation at day 7, and angiogenesis was greater in the vehicle and chamomile groups at day 2. The quantification of hydroxyproline showed a higher amount of collagen in the group treated with chamomile, mainly at day 14, although the histological quantification of collagen showed no difference between the groups. Conclusion: From the results of this study, it can be concluded that the formulation, although it had no effect on the healing time, improved the quality of the cicatricial tissue formed with a greater quantity of fibroblasts and collagen.

Enxerto em ilha para tratamento de lesão dermonecrótica em um cão atribuída a aracnidismo por Loxosceles / Island graft for the treatment of a dermonecrotic lesion in a dog attributed to loxosceles arachnidism

A picada da aranha do gênero Loxosceles, popularmente conhecidas como "aranha marrom", pode levar a uma extensa lesão dermonecrótica de difícil cicatrização e fechamento, sendo um desafio o seu tratamento. Os enxertos cutâneos são segmentos livres e independentes de pele e epiderme transferidos para um local receptor distante, normalmente utilizados para perda tecidual extensa de membros e grandes falhas dermatológicas no tronco. No presente trabalho relata-se o caso de um canino, sem raça definida, macho, 4 anos de idade, com 13,3 kg, apresentando uma lesão extensa de pele com evolução para necrose dérmica e perda substancial de tecido cutâneo, sendo associada a picada por Loxosceles spp, com base em dados da anamnese, sinais clínicos e evolução da lesão, além de ser descartado outras causas de dermonecrose como aplicação de medicamentos no subcutâneo, lesão térmica ou química. O diagnóstico de loxoscelismo raramente é baseado na identificação da aranha, tendo em vista que os tutores normalmente não observam o momento do acidente uma vez que a picada é indolor. Foi utilizado técnica de cirurgia reconstrutiva por meio de enxertos em ilha devido à extensa lesão tecidual sem possibilidade de fechamento primário com justaposição de bordas. A evolução clínica foi positiva e o animal apresentou recuperação completa após 66 dias de tratamento, sendo necessários dois procedimentos cirúrgicos de desbridamento de tecido necrótico e aproximação de bordas, associado a curativos frequentes utilizando membrana de alginato e hidrocoloide em momentos diferentes das fases de cicatrização, a fim de estimular a granulação do tecido e evitar a infecção do local. Esses cuidados foram tomados para assegurar que a região estivesse apta a receber a enxertia de pele como procedimento cirúrgico final e que a cicatrização ocorresse de forma mais rápida do que por segunda intenção, reconhecidamente lenta quando ocorre de forma espontânea, levando o paciente a maior tempo de desconforto, com alto risco de tração tecidual e contaminação local. No presente relato a cirurgia reconstrutiva se mostrou uma boa alternativa no tratamento de ferida extensa e com isso espera-se contribuir para a divulgação do uso das diversas técnicas reconstrutivas visando acelerar o processo de cicatrização e possibilitar um bom resultado final para os pacientes.

The bite of the spider of the genus Loxosceles, popularly known as the "brown spider", can lead to an extensive dermonecrotic lesion that is difficult to heal and close, making its treatment a challenge. Skin grafts are free, independent segments of skin and epidermis transferred to a distant recipient site, typically used for extensive tissue loss from limbs and large dermatological defects on the trunk. This paper reports the case of a canine, mixed breed, male, 4 years old, weighing 13.3 kg, presenting with an extensive skin lesion that progressed to dermal necrosis and substantial loss of skin tissue, associated with bite by Loxosceles spp, based on data from the anamnesis, clinical signs and evolution of the lesion, in addition to ruling out other causes of dermonecrosis such as application of subcutaneous drugs, thermal or chemical injury. The diagnosis of loxoscelism is rarely based on the identification of the spider, considering that owners usually do not observe the moment of the accident, since the bite is painless. A reconstructive surgery technique was used using island grafts due to extensive tissue damage without the possibility of primary closure with juxtaposition of edges. The clinical evolution was positive and the animal presented complete recovery after 66 days of treatment, requiring two surgical procedures for debridement of necrotic tissue and approximation of edges, associated with frequent dressings using alginate membrane and hydrocolloid at different times of the healing phases, in order to stimulate tissue granulation and avoid local infection to be able to receive skin grafting as a final surgical procedure, favoring faster healing of the lesion, since healing by second intention takes longer to occur than spontaneously, leading the patient to greater discomfort with a high risk of tissue traction and local contamination when care is not performed properly. In this case, reconstructive surgery proved to be a good alternative in the treatment of extensive wounds.

Skin lesions resulting from use of personal protective equipment in the context of COVID-19: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: During the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic, to prevent the transmission of the virus, the use of personal protection products and equipment were recommended by international and national organisations. The need to use it more frequently and for a long time can damage the skin of health professionals. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence and factors associated with skin lesions in health professionals resulting from the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). METHOD: This was a cross-sectional exploratory study through an online questionnaire. The first part of the questionnaire collected socio-labour characterisation data and the second part related to exposure factors. The variables were analysed according to the prevalence and the odds ratio (OR), within a 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: Of the 398 participants who met the inclusion criteria, 65.3% were self-diagnosed with skin lesions: 37.3% with pressure injury, 25.8% with contact/allergic dermatitis and 2.7% with acne. Regarding the use of PPE, of the 240 professionals who reported using an N95 mask, 80.4% developed injuries, 70.4% of which related to a work regime of >6 hours per day (OR: 2.08, 95% CI: 1.79-2.42). CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed a significant prevalence of skin lesions in health professionals. Among exposure factors, the N95 mask and goggles stand out. Longer or more frequent exposure time to personal protective products and equipment proved to be important factors to be considered.

Complications related to diabetic foot ulcer and associated social vulnerability factors at a referral centre in Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the prevalence and associated social vulnerability factors of complications related to diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) among individuals followed up in a public care centre in Brazil. METHOD: This is a cross-sectional study carried out with individuals followed up at the diabetic foot service of the State Referral Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology Assistance (CEDEBA) between December 2019 and October 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Descriptive analysis and comparison of the prevalence of complications related to DFU were carried out. The factors associated with the outcome variables were verified by hierarchical logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Among the 253 participants in this study, 30.4% had an active ulcer, 57.1% had a previous ulcer and 45.1% had an amputation. Lower limb ulcers were positively associated with male sex (prevalence ratio (PR): 1.22 (1.04-1.43)) and negatively associated with age >60 years (PR: 0.71 (0.61-0.83)), screening for diabetic foot (PR: 0.79 (0.67-0.92)) and the use of public transport to access CEDEBA (PR: 0.82 (0.71-0.96)). On the other hand, amputations were positively associated with male sex (PR: 1.61 (1.23-2.11)) and not working (PR: 3.83 (1.48-9.95)) and negatively associated with age >60 years (PR: 0.57 (0.45-0.74)) and the use of public transport to access CEDEBA (PR: 0.63 (0.49-0.81)). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of complications was higher than in previous studies, and associated with sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. Further research should be encouraged to investigate the role that determinants of health play in the course of the disease, contributing to the construction of strategies that incorporate formulations developed in the social and economic spheres to broaden the impact of health actions on the prevention of major diabetic foot complications.

Ageing decreases the healing of wounds in the skin of alcohol-preferring rats.

OBJECTIVE: Alcohol consumption combined with ageing alters the healing process of the skin. We evaluated whether ageing decreases the healing of incisional wounds in the skin of Wistar rats of Universidade de Chile of variety B (UChB). METHOD: A total of 20 adult rats and 20 older UChB rats, divided into two groups which underwent surgical aggression in the anterior region of the abdomen, were used: G1, adult rats (100 days old, control) with water and 10% ethanol; G2, aged rats (540 days old, experimental) with water and 10% ethanol; evaluated at 4, 7, 14 and 21 days after surgery. RESULTS: Ageing did not alter the rupture force and collagen elasticity and resistance. There were increases in telomerase with the implementation of cellular senescence, in interleukin 1-alpha (IL-1α) at 14 days of healing, in epidermal growth factor (EGF) at 14 and 21 days of healing with delayed growth and development of keratinocytes, also an increase of IL-ß at 4 days, and decrease in tumour necrosis factor (TNFα) at 7 days, associated with chronic scarring. There was an increase in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) at 4 and 7 days, responsible for the early vessels re-establishment. There was a decrease in transforming growth factor 2-beta (TGFß2) and ß3 at 4 and 7 days of healing respectively, and estradiol at 4 days. CONCLUSION: Ageing decreases the skin healing in incisional wounds in alcohol-preferring rats.

Report of two events of nosocomial outbreak and pseudo-outbreak due to contamination with Achromobacter spp / Comunicación de 2 eventos de brote y seudobrote nosocomial debido a contaminación con Achromobacter spp

Abstract Achromobacter spp. are increasingly recognized as emerging pathogens in immunocompromised patients or suffering cystic fibrosis, but unusual in immunocompetent hosts or individuals that underwent surgery. In this study we describe two simultaneous events attributable to two different Achromobacter spp. contaminated sources. One event was related to an episode of pseudo-bacteremia due to sodium citrate blood collection tubes contaminated with Achromobacter insuavis and the other to Achromobacter genogroup 20 infection and colonization caused by an intrinsically contaminated chlorhexidine soap solution. Both threatened the appropriate use of antimicrobials. Molecular approaches were critical to achieving the accurate species identification and to assess the clonal relationship, strengthening the need for dedicated, multidisciplinary and collaborative work of microbiologists, specialists in infectious diseases, epidemiologists and nurses in the control of infections to clarify these epidemiological situations.

Resumen Achromobacter spp. son reconocidas con mayor frecuencia como patógenos emergentes en pacientes con fibrosis quística e inmunodeprimidos, pero son inusuales en hospedadores inmunocompetentes o quirúrgicos. En este estudio describimos 2 eventos simultáneos atribuibles a 2 fuentes contaminadas con Achromobacter spp. Uno correspondió a un episodio de seudobacteriemia por tubos de citrato de sodio contaminados con Achromobacter insuavis y el otro a infecciones y colonizaciones debidas al uso de solución jabonosa de clorhexidina intrínsecamente contaminada con Achromobacter genogrupo 20. Ambos episodios pusieron en peligro el uso apropiado de antimicrobianos. Los enfoques moleculares fueron fundamentales para lograr la identificación precisa de las especies y evaluar la relación clonal de los aislamientos, lo que refuerza la necesidad del trabajo perseverante y multidisciplinario de microbiólogos, especialistas en enfermedades infecciosas, epidemiólogos y enfermeras en el control de infecciones para el esclarecimiento de estas situaciones epidemiológicas.

The prevalence of skin lesions and associated factors in hospitalised adult patients with cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of skin lesions and evaluate the clinical and sociodemographic factors associated with their presence in hospitalised patients. METHOD: This descriptive, cross-sectional, correlational study was performed in inpatient units and intensive care units of a cancer hospital in São Paulo, Brazil, after approval by the Institutional Research Ethics Committee. Data from hospitalised adult patients with cancer were collected during physical examinations and from medical records. A Chi-squared test, univariate analysis, a logistic regression model with results expressed as odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI), and Classification and Regression Tree (CART) analysis were used to evaluate the data. RESULTS: Of 341 patients, 80 had skin lesions, equating to an overall prevalence of 23.5%. The skin lesions included pressure injuries (10%), incontinence-associated dermatitis (6.7%), skin tears (6.5%), malignant wounds (3.8%) and complicated surgical wounds (3.2%). The factors associated with skin lesions in cancer patients were the use of disposable nappies (OR: 4.436) and age (59.1±15.1 years), according to the CART analysis, and the wearing of nappies (OR: 4.466, p<0.001), presence of ecchymosis (OR: 2.532, p<0.001) and infection (OR: 6.449, p=0.040), according to multiple regression analysis. CONCLUSION: This study contributed to knowledge about prevalence and associated factors of skin lesions in hospitalised patients with cancer, allowing the implementation of preventive measures.

The patient behind the wound assessment and plan.

OBJECTIVE: Hard-to-heal wounds are a common problem, worsened by ageing, and the increased prevalence of diabetes and morbid obesity. The provider-patient relationship has undergone a transformation, from a paternalistic to a mutual participation model, in which 'the physician tries to enter the patient's world to see the illness through the patient's eyes'. The indepth assessment of the impact of psychosocial, physical issues and provider-patient dynamics is crucial to wound healing and patient wellbeing. It can customise future treatment including physical therapy, psychological and social interventions to improve outcomes. METHOD: A new health-related quality of life instrument (HRQOL) proposal based on a survey consisting of 20 questions was completed by patients as a pilot project. The psychosocial, physical and provider-patient dynamics were evaluated. A total wound impact score (WIs) was tabulated, ranging from 20-80 points. A wound assessment and plan (PBW-AP) was created. RESULTS: In our sample of 25 patients, 75% experienced a moderate WIs (50-69) and 5% experienced a severe WIs (31-49). Feeling angry about having a wound was reported by 40% of patients. A majority of patients (60%) thought about their wounds >1 hour per day. Importantly, 24% answered that their primary care physicians never mentioned their wounds. CONCLUSION: It is important for all physicians taking care of patients with hard-to-heal wounds to see 'the patient behind the wound'. The PBW-AP algorithm is an individualised, multidisciplinary assessment and intervention based on a WIs. It is designed not only to identify but also to tackle psychosocial, physical, and provider-patient issues, to improve overall quality of life, patient satisfaction and clinical outcomes. Based on the results, the PBW-AP algorithm was designed to be used at initial and subsequent visits as a roadmap for problem identification and intervention.

The prevalence of skin tears and associated factors in hospitalised patients with cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Oncology patients are vulnerable to skin breakdown. The primary purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of skin tears (STs) in hospitalised patients with cancer and to explore related sociodemographic and clinical factors. METHOD: This was an observational, epidemiological, cross-sectional study conducted in an oncology hospital in the city of São Paulo. All STs were classified using the STAR Classification adapted and validated for Brazil. RESULTS: Of the 341 patients evaluated, 22 had STs, equating to a prevalence of 6.5%. A higher number of STs were noted on the lower limbs (26.9%) than on other body areas. The main factors associated with STs were the use of anticoagulants, the presence of ecchymosis and the use of incontinence briefs. CONCLUSION: This study contributed to a better understanding of the epidemiology of STs in hospitalised patients with cancer, as well as its associated factors. Results may inform nursing professionals with regard to the need to develop prevention strategies and early interventions.