Birth-related wounds

This document aims to provide the latest techniques for managing and preventing birth related wounds and post-CS infection, introducing dressing choices and discussing potential pathways to identify the most appropriate treatment. Special focus will be on the need to train midwives and other health care professionals (HCPs) involved with the care of maternal wounds in early diagnostics, wound care techniques and dressing selection.

About

This paper aims to provide the latest techniques for managing and preventing birth related wounds and post-CS infection, introducing dressing choices and discussing potential pathways to identify the most appropriate treatment. Special focus will be on the need to train midwives and other health care professionals (HCPs) involved with the care of maternal wounds in early diagnostics, wound care techniques, and dressing selection.

The main objectives of the EWMA document on managing and preventing birth-related wounds and post-caesarean section are to:

Present the latest techniques for managing and preventing birth-related wounds and post-caesarean section infection
Including introducing dressing choices
Including discussing potential pathways to identify the most appropriate treatment.
Present potential pathways to identify the most appropriate treatment including assessment of cost-effectiveness, patient mobility, scaring and pain etc.
Describe curriculum for HCPs involved with the management of post-caesarean section and other birth-related wounds.
Map the post-CS SSI incidence, prevalence and high risk areas, based on published information and data available from registries.

Authors & Editors

Charmaine Childs (Editor), BNurs, MPhil, PhD, Professor of Clinical Science, College of Health, Wellbeing and Life Sciences, Sheffield Hallam University, UK
Kylie Sandy-Hodgetts (Co-Editor), BSc, MBA, PhD, Senior Research Fellow/Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Medicine, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Western Australia; Director, Skin Integrity Research Unit, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
Carole Broad, MCSP, Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist in Pelvic Health, Department of Physiotherapy, Cardiff and Vale UHB, Cardiff, Wales, UK
Rose Cooper, BSc, PhD, PGCE, CBiol, MRSB, FRSA, Former Professor of Microbiology at Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff, Wales, UK
Margarita Manresa, RNM, MScNurs, PhD, Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
José Verdú-Soriano, RN, MScNurs, PhD, Professor of Community Nursing and Wound Care, Department of Community
Nursing, Preventive Medicine, Public Health and History of Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain