Urologie pro praxi 5/2017

Prevention of pressure ulcers when using incontinence aids and tools

Skin care for incontinent patients is very demanding and involves, in particular, risk identification and appropriate preventive procedures. However the issue is still underestimated in clinical nursing practice, with persistent myths and shortcomings, which are caused in multifactorial way (caregiver's knowledge, their number and nurse/patient ratio, competencies and, last but not least, by economic factors). Pressure ulcers and other skin damage and injury induced by skin maceration in incontinent patients are among relatively well-influenced clinical situation and conditions. The paper therefore focuses on the main risk factors for incontinence of urine and stool, their identification and appropriate preventive procedures of skin injury in nursing care.

Keywords: pressure lesion, pressure ulcer, pressure sore, moisture lesion, incontinence, prevention, nutrition.