CBM Wound Care & Dressing Selection 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which dressing type is most appropriate for a burn wound with heavy exudate to prevent maceration of surrounding skin?
- Thin film dressing
- Highly absorbent foam dressing (Correct answer)
- Petrolatum gauze
- Hydrocolloid wafer
Correct answer: Highly absorbent foam dressing
Highly absorbent foam dressings manage heavy exudate effectively, reducing maceration risk to periwound skin.
Question 2: When using silver-containing dressings on a burn patient, the PRIMARY concern regarding prolonged use is:
- Increased infection risk
- Wound desiccation
- Argyria and silver toxicity (Correct answer)
- Adhesive trauma on removal
Correct answer: Argyria and silver toxicity
Prolonged use of silver-containing dressings can lead to argyria (gray skin discoloration) and systemic silver toxicity.
Question 3: A partial-thickness burn on the dorsum of the hand is best managed with which dressing goal?
- Dry eschar formation to protect underlying structures
- Moist wound environment to promote epithelialization (Correct answer)
- Occlusive dressing to prevent all air exposure
- Tight compression to reduce edema only
Correct answer: Moist wound environment to promote epithelialization
Partial-thickness burns heal best in a moist environment that supports epithelialization from remaining skin appendages.
Question 4: Which topical agent is CONTRAINDICATED in patients with sulfonamide allergy?
- Bacitracin
- Silver nitrate 0.5%
- Mafenide acetate (Sulfamylon) (Correct answer)
- Petrolatum
Correct answer: Mafenide acetate (Sulfamylon)
Mafenide acetate is a sulfonamide derivative and is contraindicated in patients with sulfonamide hypersensitivity.
Question 5: In burn wound care, 'donor site' dressings for split-thickness skin graft harvest sites should prioritize:
- Dry gauze to absorb blood
- Moist healing to reduce pain and speed re-epithelialization (Correct answer)
- Antiseptic soaks three times daily
- Tight compression with ACE wrap only
Correct answer: Moist healing to reduce pain and speed re-epithelialization
Donor sites re-epithelialize faster and with less pain when kept moist, mimicking the principles of partial-thickness wound care.
Question 6: Which characteristic of a wound bed indicates it is NOT ready for skin grafting?
- Beefy red granulation tissue
- Wound bed temperature equal to body temperature
- Yellow fibrinous slough covering >25% of wound (Correct answer)
- Minimal exudate
Correct answer: Yellow fibrinous slough covering >25% of wound
Fibrinous slough indicates necrotic or poorly vascularized tissue that will impair graft adherence and survival.
Question 7: A burn nurse notices the wound dressing has strike-through after 4 hours. The BEST next action is:
- Leave in place and reinforce with additional gauze
- Perform an immediate wound culture and hold antibiotics
- Change the dressing and reassess absorbency needs (Correct answer)
- Apply a compression wrap over the soiled dressing
Correct answer: Change the dressing and reassess absorbency needs
Strike-through compromises the dressing's barrier function; the appropriate response is dressing change and selection of a more absorbent product.
CBM Wound Care & Dressing Selection 2
Which dressing type is most appropriate for a burn wound with heavy exudate to prevent maceration of surrounding skin?