The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is affecting the whole world. 1  As a result, there are many hospitalized patients and increased demands on the healthcare system.  

While the increasing adoption of prone positioning in critical care has many benefits, lengthy prone positioning sessions, are associated with an increased frequency of pressure injury development. 1

In collaboration with the Australian College of Nursing, Arjo was delighted to welcome Assoc. Professor Emily Haesler, Prof Keryln Carville and Ms Pam Mitchell RN, CNC to discuss preventing, treating, and implementing pressure injury interventions in line with the new guidelines. 

World Health Organisation (WHO) statistics state that worldwide obesity has almost tripled since 1975; in 2016, over 650 million individuals were classed as obese.1 In 2016/2017 there were a total of 617,000 NHS admissions where obesity was recorded as either a primary or secondary diagnosis, an increase of 13% from the previous year.2

The negative effects of excessive moisture at the skin are well known. Excessive moisture weakens the linkages between the collagen fibres in the dermis and softens the stratum corneum, leading to the skin becoming macerated or “boggy”. This maceration increases the skin’s susceptibility to shear, friction and deformation, ultimately increasing the susceptibility to pressure injury formation.

November 21st 2019 is World Wide Pressure Injury Prevention Day. Beginning in 2012, World Wide Pressure Injury Prevention Day is a global, annual event in which industry, healthcare professionals, the public and the media come together to raise awareness of pressure injuries.

Pressure injuries (also known as pressure ulcers), are characterised by localised injury to the skin and/or underlying tissue, usually over a bony prominence as a result of pressure, or pressure in combination with shear1.

As patient age and acuity levels continue to rise, increasing frailty, complex underlying chronic diseases and rising obesity add to the daily challenges faced by clinicians. These challenges include pressure injuries; wounds characterised by localised injury to the skin and/or underlying tissue, usually over a bony prominence as a result of pressure or pressure in combination with shear.1

Pressure injuries are today included among the daily challenges faced by clinicians around the world and their prevalence and incidence remain high in many care settings.1