Jacqueline Greer Wound Care Day with Stacy Joiner RNNP 06/24/2015 On Wednesday we learned about gas gangrene because a patient was suspected of having this fast-moving infection. It is caused by a bacteria known as clostridial myonecrosis. This just doesn’t just happen, there is usually a trauma or deep wound that becomes infected with this bacteria which releases toxins that release gas into the wound and surrounding tissue. This type of gangrene moves extremely fast killing tissue and is life-threatening. Stacy was checking the patient who had a very large LE wound for this. She had a culture done stat to rule this bacteria out because of the rate it spreads wreaking havoc on the entire body. She was suspicious because a symptom when you palpate the edema area around the wound it is mushy and crackles. He also had blisters with foul smelling drainage. This is because of the gas the bacterial toxins release. It crackles because it is like you popping the air bubbles under the skin surface. Other symptoms are fever and increased H/R. Luckily her patient did not have this deadly infection. We also learned about was Stacy’s number one choice for wounds that have minor exudate. Xerofoam is her first choice because it is bacteriostatic and does not adhere to the wound site. The active ingredient is petrolatum 3% Bismuth Tribromophenate. (http://www.xeroform.us/) It can be used in a variety of wound types so this
Gas gangrene and clinical experience wound nurse day 1
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Jacqueline Greer
Wound Care Day with Stacy Joiner RNNP
06/24/2015
On Wednesday we learned about gas gangrene because a patient was
suspected of having this fast-moving infection. It is caused by a
bacteria known as clostridial myonecrosis. This just doesnt just
happen, there is usually a trauma or deep wound that becomes
infected with this bacteria which releases toxins that release gas
into the wound and surrounding tissue. This type of gangrene moves
extremely fast killing tissue and is life-threatening.
Stacy was checking the patient who had a very large LE wound for
this. She had a culture done stat to rule this bacteria out because
of the rate it spreads wreaking havoc on the entire body. She was
suspicious because a symptom when you palpate the edema area around
the wound it is mushy and crackles. He also had blisters with foul
smelling drainage. This is because of the gas the bacterial toxins
release. It crackles because it is like you popping the air bubbles
under the skin surface. Other symptoms are fever and increased H/R.
Luckily her patient did not have this deadly infection.
We also learned about was Stacys number one choice for wounds
that have minor exudate. Xerofoam is her first choice because it is
bacteriostatic and does not adhere to the wound site. The active
ingredient is petrolatum 3% Bismuth Tribromophenate.
(http://www.xeroform.us/) It can be used in a variety of wound
types so this makes it very popular to use. You cut a piece and
place it right over the wounds. It is yellow and has a very solid
in appearance but it is loosely woven up close. When it is removed
it causes no discomfort to the patient.
Stacy liked xerofoam because it is so easy to use in the long
term setting. It is readily available too. This is one of the
products she has a lot of availability to. Each facility carries
different things in abundance so she was thankful this is one of
them. Stacy told us that this dressing is so wonderful because it
really cuts down on the infections and promotes the wound healing
process. The dressing is moist which facilitates the healing
process too.
