What are the recommended dressings for different types of wounds, such as diabetic ulcers or surgical wounds?

Recommended dressings for diabetic foot ulcers: Use dressings that maintain a moist wound environment and consider the clinical assessment and patient preference. Options include hydrocolloids, alginates, foams, and interactive dressings such as UrgoStart, which contains a hydrocolloid polymer and nano-oligosaccharide factor to promote healing. Debridement should be performed by trained professionals, and negative pressure wound therapy may be considered after surgical debridement. Offloading devices are also essential to reduce pressure on the ulcer. Choose dressings with the lowest acquisition cost appropriate to the clinical circumstances ⁴.

Recommended dressings for surgical wounds: For surgical wounds healing by secondary intention, use appropriate interactive dressings that promote a warm, moist environment to support healing. Avoid Eusol and gauze, moist cotton gauze, or mercuric antiseptic solutions. Seek advice from tissue viability specialists for dressing choice. Do not use Eusol and gauze, dextranomer, or enzymatic treatments for debridement in surgical site infections. Antibiotic treatment should be guided by clinical signs and microbiology ⁵.

Additional wound types: For venous leg ulcers, dressings that maintain moist wound healing without maceration are recommended, such as hydrocolloids, alginates, foams, and antimicrobial dressings like silver dressings if infection is suspected. Routine long-term use of topical antiseptics or antimicrobials is not recommended ¹. For malignant skin ulcers, non-adherent dressings are preferred to minimize pain, and antimicrobial dressings may be used if infection is present. Dressings with haemostatic properties can be considered if bleeding occurs ³.