Wound Bed Preparation Flashcards

Biofilm in a chronic wound is best described as:

Answer: An organized bacterial community protected by a polymeric matrix

Biofilm is a structured, sessile community of bacteria encased in a self-produced extracellular polymeric matrix that confers resistance to antimicrobials and host defenses.

Which debridement method relies on the body's own endogenous enzymes and white blood cells to liquefy necrotic tissue?

Answer: Autolytic debridement

Autolytic debridement harnesses the body's own phagocytes and proteolytic enzymes, typically facilitated by occlusive or semi-occlusive moisture-retentive dressings.

Healthy granulation tissue ready for wound bed closure appears as:

Answer: Bright beefy red, moist, and granular

Healthy granulation tissue is bright red, moist, and has a granular cobblestone appearance due to new capillary loops; it bleeds easily when touched.

The 'I' component of the TIME framework in wound bed preparation addresses:

Answer: Infection and inflammation control

The 'I' in TIME stands for Infection and Inflammation control, including assessment of bacterial burden and management of prolonged or excessive inflammation that impairs healing.

Critical colonization in a wound differs from overt infection primarily because:

Answer: The bacterial load impairs healing without classic systemic infection signs

Critical colonization represents a bacterial burden high enough to stall wound healing and cause subtle local changes (e.g., increased pain, friable tissue) without frank systemic infection signs.

Wound irrigation pressure used during wound bed preparation should ideally fall within which range?

Answer: 4–15 psi

The recommended wound irrigation pressure of 4–15 psi effectively removes surface debris and bacteria without causing tissue trauma or driving bacteria deeper into the wound.

In wound bed preparation, the Edge of wound component focuses most directly on:

Answer: Ensuring wound margins are migrating and free from barriers to epithelialization

The 'E' component assesses whether epithelial cells at the wound edge are actively migrating inward, and addresses barriers such as epibole, callus, or undermining.