[Microbiology of pressure and vascular ulcer infections].

Introduction: Pressure ulcer (PU) infection is a significant clinical problem in many elderly patients.

Material And Methods: To determine the microbiology of PU and vascular ulcer (VU) infections by conducting a cross-sectional study of outpatients treated in a chronic wounds unit over an 18 month period.

Results: Sixty six patients with PU infection and 159 patients with an infected VU were identified.

[Cost-effectiveness of a TLC-NOSF polyurethane foam dressing].

Chronic wounds represent a drain on the Spanish health system, nowdays is necessary an optimization of the resources used and that is for this that is necessary justify the use of the products over others through cost-effective studies for to show the economic benefit to professionals and the life quality of patient. This article compares the use of a new technology for format polyurethane foam, TLC-NOSF, with the most commonly used products for treating wounds. This comparison is made using a cost-effectiveness model (Markov Model).

[Clinical cases about the therapeutic use of debriding dressing hidrodetersive polyacrylate fibers with TLC and foam dressings TLC-NOSF polyurethane in chronic wounds].

The treatment of chronic wounds requires the use of highly specific products for different phases of the healing process. This article raises a number of clinical cases with chronic wounds of vascular origin and pressure ulcers. Such cases required a initial debridement because of the large content of fibrin covering the wound bed at this stage was used dressing hidrodetersive polyacrylate fibers with TLC.

[Dressings impregnated in antibacterial agent: multicenter study on acute and chronic wounds, with Atrauman Ag].

Unlabelled: Ulcers and chronic wounds are an ideal medium for bacterial growth. This growth occurs in both number and variety of species, resulting in lesions with polymicrobial flora. The use of antimicrobial treatments to control and/or prevention of infection is discussed.

[Care for ulcers having diverse etiology prospective study on PermaFoam].

PermaFoam, the dressing under study, is characterized as a polyurethane foam having gradient pores which, besides all the aforementioned characteristics, makes it possible to: rapidly absorb large quantity of seepage or exudation, cell remains and viscous seepage thanks to a layer of large size pores that are in contact with the wound; distribute and retain seepage in an intermediate layer of this dressing which is composed of pores having a smaller diameter; and, through a final layer characterized by an even smaller pore which permits a high degree of semi-permeability and adaptability to the distinct locales where this dressing needs be applied. With the objective to evaluate the usefulness of this dressing under study for the cicatrization of wounds having diverse etiology this research project was carried out. Secondary objectives included: reducing the surface of a wound, respecting the perilesional skin, estimating the ease of handling and applying this dressing, and identifying the most outstanding qualities this dressing provides.

[Skin care and prevention of bed sores in bedridden patients].

The aging process and environmental aggressions will leave their imprints on the state of a person's skin, possibly compromising some of its functions. Age is a risk factor for the development of bed sores, but not the only factor nor the most important one; therefore, we need to develop prevention programs directed to all patients who spend long periods of time sedentary or bedridden. Prevention programs for bed sores must be based on the best evidence available and include a risk evaluation on these factors: suffering a lesion due to pressure, specific skin treatment, incontinence control, excessive humidity posture changes and the use of special surfaces to manage pressure during an increase in mobility or activity by the patient, local pressure reducing devices as well as paying attention to special situations.

[Hyaluronic acid: a new trend to cure skin injuries an observational study].

The authors made an observational study to evaluate the efficiency of Jaloplast (hyaluronic acid AH) as treatment for skin injuries having different etiologies. The authors highlight its results regarding cicatrisation (69%) and the improvement of lesions (15.38%).

[Evaluation of the clinical effectiveness of the dressing PermaFoam for the treatment of chronic ulcers].

Introduction: The presence on the market of new dressings to cure injuries makes it necessary for professionals to know their peculiarities for use in order to optimize their applications. The main objective of this study is to know the clinical behavior of a polymer sponge dressing having a porous grade called PermaFoam in the treatment of chronic ulcers caused by various etiologies.

Material And Methods: The authors carried out an open observational, prospective and multi-centric study during the first semester in 2004 on patients who suffered from chronic lesions sent by the Primary Health Care Centers and Social-Sanitary Centers.

[LCT (lipocolloid technology) in lesions of venous etiology].

This article reports on a spanish study to evaluate the effectiveness of dressings using a Technology Lipido-Colloid to treat skin lesions with "Urgotul". Has been included 18 of this 60 lesions were leg ulcers. We have decided to focus our analysis in these difficult to treat chronic wounds.

[A device for feminine urinary incontinence].

Urinary incontinence is grave health problem which causes severe repercussions in the quality of life of those patients which suffer it and it is a serious risk factor in the development of pressure sores or ulcers. Urinary collecting sacks provide an option to deal with this problem even though up to present time these collecting sacks were only available for male patients. In this instrument usage article, the authors introduce a new device, VILUC, commercialized by Lauclar Laboratories in Spain, for feminine urinary incontinence as a possible alternate treatment for women affected by this problem who are incapable of maintaining a progressive and complete vesicle reeducation.

[Topical administration of an hyperoxygenated fatty acid compound. Preventive and curative effects on pressure ulcer].

Introduction: Hyper-oxygenized acidic fats are a very useful topical use product for preventing pressure ulcers and to treat stage I pressure ulcers. Mepentol is a hyper-oxygenized acidic fats product (linoleic acid, gamma linolenic acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, palmitoleic acid, arachidonic acid and eicosenoic acid) with extracts of Equisetum Avrense and Hypericum Perforatum. It works in three main facets: improve as is possible the epidermis's resistance, repair the damage to the epidermis produced by a prolonged pressure, and restore capillary circulation and counter arrest the effect of oxygen radicals produced during reactive hyperemia which are caused by periods of prolonged pressure.