Systematics, diagnosis and treatment of wound infections in chronic wounds: A position paper from WundDACH

Abstract

Wound infections are still an interdisciplinary and interprofessional challenge, because of numerous complications, particularly in people with chronic wounds. There are many different concepts and approaches in this field today. Therefore, WundDACH, the umbrella organization of the German-speaking wound healing societies, wrote a position paper on this important topic. An interdisciplinary and interprofessional group of experts from German-speaking countries developed definitions and procedures for nomenclature, diagnosis and treatment of wound infections in people with chronic wounds in a modified Delphi process.

The importance of correctly diagnosing wound infections is emphasized so that adequate treatment can be carried out as early and specifically as possible. For a differentiated assessment, a simplified continuum of wound infection with contamination, colonization, local and systemic infection and the corresponding therapeutic consequences was described. Most bacteria in wounds can be removed by repeated wound-irrigation and debridement. Local wound infections are diagnosed based on clinical signs of infection and TILI score. Treatment is then usually exclusively local, for example with modern antiseptics such as polyhexanide. Systemic antibiotics should mostly be considered when signs of systemic infections appear. The indication for antimicrobial wound therapy should be critically reviewed after 10–14 days at the latest.