RNAO BPG Pressure Ulcers Stage I to IV - Faculty of Health ...

Assessment & Management of Stage I to IV Pressure UlcersAppendix B: Glossary of Clinical TermsAbscess: A circumscribed collection of pus that forms in tissue as a result of acute or chroniclocalized infection. It is associated with tissue destruction and frequently swelling (AHCPR, 1994).Analgesia: Relief of pain without loss of consciousness (AHCPR, 1994).Antimicrobial: An agent that inhibits the growth of microbes (AHCPR, 1994).Antiseptic (Topical): Product with antimicrobial activity designed for use on skin orother superficial tissues; may damage cells (AHCPR, 1994).Anthropometric: Evaluation of nutritional status. Areas include weight, mid-arm musclecircumference, skin fold measures and head circumference.Bacteremia: The presence of viable bacteria in the circulating blood (AHCPR, 1994).Body Substance Isolation (BSI): A system of infection-control procedures routinely busedwith all patients to prevent cross-contamination of pathogens. The system emphasizes the use ofbarrier precautions to isolate potentially infectious body substances (AHCPR, 1994).Bottoming Out: Expression used to describe inadequate support from a mattress overlay or seatcushion as determined by a “hand check”. To perform a hand check, the caregiver places anoutstretched hand (palm up) under the overlay or cushion below the pressure ulcer or that part of thebody at risk for a pressure ulcer. If the caregiver feels less than an inch of support material, the patienthas bottomed out and the support surface is therefore inadequate (AHCPR, 1994).Cell migration: Movement of cells in the repair process.Cellulitis: Inflammation of cellular or connective tissue. Inflammation may be diminished orabsent in immunosuppressed individuals (AHCPR, 1994).Culture (Bacterial): Removal of bacteria from the wound for the purpose of placing them in agrowth medium in the laboratory to propagate to the point where they can be identified and tested forsensitivity to various antibiotics. Swab cultures are generally inadequate for this purpose (AHCPR, 1994).Culture (Swab): Techniques involving the use of a swab to remove bacteria from a wound andplace them in a growth medium for propagation and identification. Swab cultures obtained from thesurface of a pressure ulcer are usually positive because of surface colonization and should not be usedto diagnose ulcer infection (AHCPR, 1994).Dead Space: A cavity remaining in a wound (AHCPR, 1994).70