Wound Care Terminology

Slough

(v.) to cast off, discard; to get rid of something objectionable or unnecessary; to plod through as if through mud; (n.) a mire; a state of depression

medical asepsis

practices used to remove or destroy pathogens and to prevent their spread from one person or place to another person or place; clean technique

Purulent

producing or containing pus

Periwound

skin around the wound

nonwoven dressing

soft, non-woven backing with adhesive border that is gentle on skin, conformable, breathable and provides ease of movement

telfa dressing

sterile nonadherent dressing, often applied on fresh wounds or incisions

stage 2 ulcer

broken skin; partial thickness; blister epidermis and dermis; can ooze

Serous

clear, watery plasma, transparent fluid

Neocrosis

death of tissue

contact precautions

direct or indirect contact with a patient and/or his or her environment including person's room or objects in contact with the person, that has an infection with an organism transmitted fecal-orally -Mask, eye glasses, gown,gloves

Ecchymosis

discoloration of the skin through bruising

stage 3 ulcer

epidermis, dermis, and subQ tissue; oozing, signs of infection; full thickness loss

sanginous

Bright Red, Fresh blood, bloody drainage

Bloodborne pathogens

Disease-causing microorganisms carried in the body by blood or body fluids, such as hepatitis and HIV. -wearing gloves, a face mask, protective eyewear or goggles

stage 4 ulcer

Full-thickness tissue loss with exposed bone, muscle, or tendon

secondary intention wound healing

Large, open wounds, which require more tissue replacement and are often contaminated. Also, if a wound is healing by primary intention and becomes infected. They take longer to heal and produce more scar tissue.

Undermining wound

The destruction of tissue or ulceration extending under the skin edges so that the wound is larger at the base than at the skin surface. Open wound.

Droplet precautions

Must be followed for a patient known or suspected to be infected with pathogens transmitted by large-particle droplets expelled during coughing, sneezing, talking, or laughing. -wear protective surgical masks, gloves

scant

Not enough or barely enough

Evisceration

The displacement of organs outside of the body.

Tegaderm dressing

Transparent adhesive film

hematoma

a circumscribed collection of blood, usually clotted, in a tissue or organ, caused by a break in a blood vessel.

purpura

a disease characterized by purple or brownish-red spots on the skin or mucous membranes, caused by the extravasation of blood.

Petechiae

a minute, round, nonraised hemorrhage in the skin or in a mucous or serous membrane.

tunneling wound

a narrow opening or passageway underneath the skin that can extend in any direction through soft tissue and results in dead space with potential for abscess formation

Eschar

a thick layer of dead tissue and tissue fluid that develops over a deep burn area

Tunneling

a wound that's progressed to form passageways underneath the surface of the skin -These tunnels can be short or long, shallow or deep, and can take twists and turns. Tunneling can occur in stage 3 and stage 4 pressure ulcers

Asepsis

absence of pathogenic microorganisms

Copious

abundant; plentiful

Neutropenic precautions

are comparable to contact precautions in reverse. For example, you may need to wear gloves or other appropriate PPE to prevent bringing contaminates into the patient's room. In addition, fresh fruits or vegetables should not be included with patient meals

Moderate

average

Excudate

fluid, such as pus, that leaks out of an infected wound

dehisecence

general separation or splitting/bursting open of the tissue layers

Standard PPE

gloves, face shield, gown, mask, booties -create barriers that protect skin, clothing, mucous membranes, and the respiratory tract from infectious agents.

stage 1 ulcer

intact skin; red/irritation; unblanchable

surgical asepsis

techniques used to destroy all pathogenic organisms, also called sterile technique

debridement

the removal of dirt, foreign objects, damaged tissue, and cellular debris from a wound to prevent infection and to promote healing

Serosanginous

thin, watery, pale red to pink

granulation tissue

tissue formed in ulcers and in early wound healing and repair, composed largely of newly growing capillaries and so called from its irregular surface in open wounds; proud flesh.

Airborne precautions

used for patients known or suspected to be infected with pathogens transmitted by airborne droplet nuclei -N95 mask, gown -other pathogens that can be transmitted through airflow that are 5 micrometers or smaller in size and remains in the environment for long periods of time

Primary intention wound healing

wounds that heal under conditions of minimal tissue loss