Page 72 - Wound Care at End of Life Content: A Guide for Hospice Professionals - DEMO

Wound Care Glossary

Term Description
Abrasion Wearing away of the skin through some mechanical process (friction or trauma).
Abscess Accumulation of pus enclosed anywhere in the body.
Antibiotic Pharmacologic agents that destroy or inhibit bacteria. May be broad or narrow in spectrum of activity.
May be used systemically and topically.
Antifungal Pharmacologic agents that inhibit the growth of fungal infections. May be broad or narrow in spectrum of
activity. May be used systemically and topically.
Antimicrobial Any agent that destroys or inhibits the growth of microbes including bacteria, fungi, viruses, or protozoa
Antiseptic Chemical agents that prevent, inhibit, or destroy microorganisms including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and
protozoa. Topical use only.
Autolysis Disintegration or liquefaction of tissue or cells by the body’s own mechanisms, such as leukocytes and
enzymes.
Bacterial load Total number of bacteria in a wound; may or may not cause a host response.
Bacteriostatic Agent capable of inhibiting the growth of bacteria.
Biofilm Polysaccharide matrix that microorganisms produce; highly resistant to antimicrobials. Must be removed
by debridement.
Bioburden Presence of microorganism on or in a wound. Continuum of bioburden ranges from contamination,
colonization, critical colonization, biofilm and infection. Bioburden includes quantity of microorganism
present, as well as their diversity, virulence, and interaction of the organism with each other and the body.
Blanching Becoming white; maximum pallor
Cellulitis Inflammation of the tissues indicating a local infection; characterized by redness, edema, and tenderness

Collagen Main supportive protein of the skin.
Colonization Presence of replicating bacteria that adhere to the wound bed but do not cause cellular damage to the
host.
Contamination Non‐replicating microorganisms on the wound surface without a host reaction. All open wounds are
contaminated by normal skin flora.
Critical Increasing bacterial load on a wound that is between the category of colonization and infection. Wound
colonization/Local does not heal but may not display classic signs of infection.
infection
Dead space Defect or cavity
Debridement Removal of foreign material and devitalized or contaminated tissue from a wound until healthy tissue is
exposed.
Decubitus Latin word referring to the reclining position; misnomer for a pressure sore.
Demarcation Line of separation between viable and nonviable tissue.
Denuded Loss of epidermis
Disinfectant Topical liquid chemical that destroys or inhibits growth of microorganisms.
Enzymes Biochemical substances that are capable of breaking down necrotic tissue.
Epithelialization Process of the formation of new epithelial tissue‐upper layer of the skin.
Erosion Loss of epidermis
Erythema Redness of the skin surface produced by vasodilation.
Eschar Thick, leathery, black or brown crust; can be loose or firmly adherent, hard or soft, dry or wet; it is
nonviable tissue and is colonized with bacteria.
Excoriation Linear scratches on the skin. NOT redness or denuded.
Exudate Accumulation of fluid in a wound; may contain serum, cellular debris, bacteria, and leukocytes.
Fistula Abnormal passage from an internal organ to the body surface or between two internal organs.
Friction Rubbing that causes mechanical trauma to the skin.
Full‐thickness Tissue destruction extending through the dermis to involve subcutaneous level and possibly muscle, fascia,
or bone.
Granulation Formation of connective tissue and many new capillaries in a full‐thickness wound; typically appears as red
and cobblestoned. Occurs only in a full‐thickness wound.
57