Click here for the Wounds UK Home Page October 2005

Launch of EWMA position document 'Identifying Criteria for Wound Infection'   Prague Anouncement	Excellence on Display in Germany My recent visit to the EWMA, ETRS and DGfW conference in Stuttgart proved to be an excellent one for many reasons. The conference titled 'From the laboratory to the patient: future organisation and care of wound problems' was well attended and there was an interesting mix of scientist and practitioner present. The mix of delegates meant that there was a lot of exchange of ideas at the conference, with the scientists keen to learn about the practicalities of wound management, whilst the practitioners were equally keen to examine the science behind wound healing technologies. Of particular interest was the number and quality of the posters presented. Covering almost all subject areas in wound management, the posters demonstrated tremendous effort of the part of the authors involved. If I have one complaint it is that the posters were placed in a dimly lit corridor at the far end of the exhibition hall which made them difficult to view. There were, in addition many excellent presentations covering a vast array of topics, from the role of proteases in healing to quality of life issues for leg ulcer patients. As well as covering contemporary research, the conference organisers were keen to look to the future and much discussion was centred around the way forward for wound healing. The overall message from the conference was that all research regardless of the scale is important. Many of us may carry out small scale projects which we feel are unworthy of recognition, however, the range of projects on display in Stuttgart demonstrated the need for all practitioners to share their work and their ideas. John Timmons Editor Email: John.Timmons@gcal.ac.uk	References Latest journal references

Launch of EWMA position document 'Identifying Criteria for Wound Infection' The Stuttgart conference witnesed the launch of the EWMA position document on 'Identifying criteria for Wound Infection'. At the launch Peter Vowden discussed the need for clinicians 'rise to the challenge' of improving diagnosis and management of wound infection across Europe. Key concerns raised at the launch were those of bacterial resistance and the need for earlyand accurate detection of infection. Many key authors have contributed to the document, including Rose Cooper, Christine Moffat, Finn Gottrup, Keith Harding, Keith Cutting, David Leaper, Andrew Melling, Peter Vowden and Marco Romanelli. The launch of this document has come at a time when the whole of Europe has become concerned with rising levels of MRSA and other resistant bacteria. Central to the focus of the document has been the burden which infected wounds can place on patients, relatives and also those in the caring professions. The conclusions of the document relfect the views of a Delphi panel which was used in order to identify key criteria for wound infection in acute wounds and also those key signs of infection in pressure ulcers. The document should provide an excellent resource for those involved in wound management and treatment, and in addition is a useful teaching aid for educating staff in wound infection. The position document was supported by an educational grant from Convatec.   Keep reading for: Prague Anouncement Latest journal references Download this newsletter in PDF format Prague Anouncement Next years EWMA conference will be in the city of Prague in the Czech Republic, from the 18th until the 20th May. The key themes of the conference will be Innovation, Education and Implementation. The conference will not only focus on new developments but will have a strong emphasis on Education and Implementation, both key factors which have the potential to influence patient care at every level. This should prove to be an excellent meeting. Keep reading for: Latest journal references Download this newsletter in PDF format References Chatterjee, J A critical review of irrigation techniques in acute wounds INTERNATIONAL WOUND JOURNAL VOL 2; NUMBER 3 pp. 258-265 DeSanti, L. (2005) Pathophysiology and Current Management of Burn Injury ADVANCES IN SKIN AND WOUND CARE VOL 18; NUMB 6; pp. 323-332 Dimond, B.(2005) Legal Aspects of Documentation Access to medical reports pp. 860-861 Dinh, T. L.; Veves, A (2005) A Review of the Mechanisms Implicated in the Pathogenesis of the Diabetic Foot INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LOWER EXTREMITY WOUNDS VOL 4; NUMB 3; pp. 154-159 Godfrey, H. (2005) Understanding pain, part 1: physiology of pain BRITISH JOURNAL OF NURSING,LONDON- VOL 14; NUMB 16 pp. 846-853 Edmonds, M. (2005) Infection in the Neuroischemic Foot INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LOWER EXTREMITY WOUNDS VOL 4; NUMB 3; pp. 145-153 French, L. Community nurse use of Doppler ultrasound in leg ulcer assessment BRITISH JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY NURSING VOL 10; NUMB 9; pp. S6-S15 Graham, I. D.; Harrison, M. B.; Lorimer, K.; Piercianowski, T.; Friedberg, E.; Buchanan, M.; Harris, C (2005) Adapting National and International Leg Ulcer Practice Guidelines for Local Use: The Ontario Leg Ulcer Community Care Protocol. ADVANCES IN SKIN AND WOUND CARE VOL 18; NUMB 6; pp. 307-318 Huljev, D.; Kucisec-Tepes N., (2005) Case Report Necrotizing Fasciitis of the Abdominal Wall as a Post-Surgical Complication: A Case Report WOUNDS VOL 17; NUMB 7;pp. 169-177 Jeffcoate, W. J (2005) Abnormalities of Vasomotor Regulation in the Pathogenesis of the Acute Charcot Foot of Diabetes Mellitus. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LOWER EXTREMITY WOUNDS VOL 4; NUMB 3; pp. 133-137 Khan, M. N (2005) The influence of diabetes on wound healing DIABETIC FOOT VOL 8; NUMB 3; pp. 144-153 King, S. (2005) Catrixreg: an easy-to-use collagen treatment for wound healing BRITISH JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY NURSING VOL 10; NUMB 9; pp. S31-S34 Kopera, D.; Kokol, R.; Berger, C.; Haas, J. (2005) Does the use of low-level laser influence wound healing in chronic venous leg ulcers?; JOURNAL OF WOUND CARE VOL 14; NUMB 8; Luk, R. P.; Sinha, S. N.; Lord, R.(2005) Upregulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression in faster-healing chronic leg ulcers JOURNAL OF WOUND CARE VOL 14; NUMB 8; pp. 373-382 Murray, F (2005) Malodour in diabetic foot wounds DIABETIC FOOT VOL 8; NUMB 3;pp. 122-133 Patel, G. K.; Knight, A. G Generalised cutaneous necrosis: a complication of low-molecular-weight heparin; pp. 267-270 Seymour, E. (2005) pp. Managing and promoting change: implementing the Leg Clubreg model BRITISH JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY NURSING VOL 10; NUMB 9; S16-S24 Using silver to reduce catheter-associated urinary tract infections NURSING STANDARD -LONDON- VOL 19; NUMB 50; pp. 51-54 Waterlow, J pp. From costly treatment to cost-effective prevention: using Waterlow pp. S25-S30 While, A. (2005) Which way for nurse prescribing? BRITISH JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY NURSING VOL 10; NUMB 9; pp. 440-440   Download this newsletter in PDF format