What is the proper direction to clean a wound during dressing change?

What is the proper direction to clean a wound during dressing change?

• A. Apply barrier cream before cleaning the wound
• B. Clean from dirty to clean, then to dirty
• C. Clean from clean to dirty; use appropriate solution
• D. Do not clean the wound at all

Answer: (C)

Cleaning should be done in a clean-to-dirty sequence using an appropriate cleansing solution. This means starting with the cleanest area around the wound and moving toward the dirtiest area, which is the wound itself, so contaminants are not pushed into already cleaned tissue. Use a new gauze for each stroke to prevent cross-contamination and follow the prescribed solution or facility policy. Barriers or barrier creams belong on surrounding skin after cleansing and dressing, not before cleaning, because they can interfere with cleansing and dressing adherence. Not cleaning the wound at all leaves contaminants present and increases infection risk. Cleaning from dirty to clean would drag bacteria from the wound into previously clean areas, which raises the chance of spreading infection.

Cleaning should be done in a clean-to-dirty sequence using an appropriate cleansing solution. This means starting with the cleanest area around the wound and moving toward the dirtiest area, which is the wound itself, so contaminants are not pushed into already cleaned tissue. Use a new gauze for each stroke to prevent cross-contamination and follow the prescribed solution or facility policy.

Barriers or barrier creams belong on surrounding skin after cleansing and dressing, not before cleaning, because they can interfere with cleansing and dressing adherence. Not cleaning the wound at all leaves contaminants present and increases infection risk. Cleaning from dirty to clean would drag bacteria from the wound into previously clean areas, which raises the chance of spreading infection.