The Use of Prophylactic Foam Dressings for Prevention of Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injuries

Abstract

PURPOSE:The purpose of this systematic review was to identify and evaluate the use of prophylactic foam dressings for prevention of hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs). METHODS: A systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items of Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis Statement (PRISMA). SEARCH STRATEGY: Four researchers independently conducted searches in Health Source, Cochrane of Systematic Reviews, CINAHL, and PubMed. Search terms included: "pressure* OR skin breakdown AND sacrum*"; "ICU patient* OR critical care patient*"; and "foam dressing OR prophylactic* or prevent*." FINDINGS: The search identifi ed 380 articles; 14 met eligibility criteria. The methodological quality of the included studies was variable. Findings from all studies included in our review support a decrease in HAPI incidence with use of sacral foam dressings. IMPLICATIONS: Findings from this review suggest that prophylactic foam dressings decrease sacral HAPI occurrences in critical care patients. While additional research is needed, current best evidence supports use of prophylactic foam sacral dressings for patients at risk for HAPI.

Prophylactic sacral protective dressings' effect on preventing pressure injury: A meta‐analysis

“…Also, further studies are needed to deliver a clinically meaningful difference in the results. This was suggested in other meta‐analyses, which showed a similar effect of prophylactic sacral protective dressings on preventing pressure injury 11‐15 . This requires further investigation and explanation because no clear rationale was found to explain these results.…”

“…This was suggested in other meta-analyses, which showed a similar effect of prophylactic sacral protective dressings on preventing pressure injury. [11][12][13][14][15] This requires further investigation and explanation because no clear rationale was found to explain these results. Well-designed studies are also needed to assess the factors including the combination of different ages, gender, and ethnicity, because our meta-analysis study could not answer whether these factors are associated with the results.…”

“…4 Numerous meta-analyses have examined the efficacy of prophylactically applied protective dressings. [11][12][13][14][15] A 2013 Cochrane review of prophylactic use of soft silicone foam dressings showed a decrease in pressure injury frequency in numerous studies, with inadequate indication because of the low quality of the comprised studies. 16 In an update to this meta-analysis, the indication was of very low and low graded for high risk of bias and high inaccuracy.…”

“…However, in the clinical setting, these dressings are often used prophylactically for subjects at high risk of pressure injury, especially critically ill subjects, 10 and are suggested for subject transport circumstances as a real notice to health care professionals about pressure injury inhibition 4 . Numerous meta‐analyses have examined the efficacy of prophylactically applied protective dressings 11‐15 . A 2013 Cochrane review of prophylactic use of soft silicone foam dressings showed a decrease in pressure injury frequency in numerous studies, with inadequate indication because of the low quality of the comprised studies 16 .…”

Local Drug Delivery Strategies towards Wound Healing

“…Lower leg ulcers, mild to heavily exuding wounds, and granulating wounds can all benefit from foam dressings. They offer both thermal insulation and excellent absorption thanks to their hydrophilic characteristics [ 153 ]. These incredibly adaptable dressings should be used on moderate-to-heavy exudative wounds, partial- and full-thickness wounds that are granulating, or slough-coated donor sites, ostomy sites, mild burns, and diabetic ulcers.…”