Standard Textile Recognizes Worldwide Pressure Injury Prevention Day

Standard Textile is supporting World Wide Pressure Injury Prevention Day, a global awareness event organized by the National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel (NPIAP). Worldwide Pressure Injury Prevention Day was first observed in 2013.

“Pressure injuries are one of the most common conditions experienced by patients around the world. A pressure injury may cause a great deal of pain and suffering, and it often presents a difficult challenge for the patient, the caregiver, and the health system,” said Norman Frankel, Executive Vice President, Standard Textile. “Pressure injuries are preventable, and we all have a role in stopping them from occurring.”

Impact of COVID-19 on Pressure Injuries

A recent article published in USA Today reveals that as COVID-19 cases continue to grow across the country and ICU beds fill with critically ill and bed-bound patients, experts worry that more patients are at risk of developing pressure injuries. Pressure injuries can occur within hours of being in the ICU immobilized and on a ventilator. In addition, the skin is the largest organ in the body and too many times may be overlooked in critical illness conditions.

The COVID-19 pandemic has also exposed vulnerabilities in U.S. healthcare supply chains, resulting in unpredictable issues with securing and distributing disposable products. Reusable textile solutions provide greater assurance for reliable, consistent delivery from a trusted source. And as the National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel (NPIAP) has stated in their recent Position Paper, “The COVID-19 crisis has dramatically changed significant aspects of pressure injury prevention in acute care hospitals.”

Therapeutic Interventions for the Treatment of Pressure Injuries

When patients are confined for long periods of time to a bed, therapeutic intervention is necessary. The patient’s body is in nearly constant, intimate physical contact with the linens on their bed. Yet, healthcare bedding has changed very little over time. Traditional cotton/poly sheets have no therapeutic properties, and in many cases, trap heat and moisture, contributing to tissue breakdown. DermaTherapy^® by Standard Textile redefines the standard of care by offering reusable textiles focused on caring for the skin and helping to prevent pressure injuries.

DermaTherapy^® by Standard Textile is the first and only silk-like therapeutic linen system with FDA 510(k) clearance as a Class I medical device to reduce the risk of patients developing pressure injuries. Silk-line linen is recommended in NPIAP’s Clinical Practice Guidelines as a method for preventing pressure ulcers and injuries, and improving patient outcomes. The chapter on Bed Linen in the 2019 International Guideline for prevention and treatment of pressure injuries also states: “Consider using textiles with low-friction coefficients for individuals with or at risk of pressure injuries.”

The evidence for the recommendation to consider using a low-friction coefficient textile is primarily based on the results of a wide variety of studies exploring the effectiveness of silk-like fabrics that reduce shear stress, minimize skin irritation, and dry quickly when compared to cotton or cotton-blend fabric. DermaTherapy^® keeps the patient’s skin cooler, decreases metabolic demand, and reduces bioburden—a potential source of infection. Additionally, DermaTherapy^® minimizes friction between the fitted sheet and the underpad, providing easier patient positioning and less back strain on clinicians.

Information below provided by the National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel.

What is a pressure ulcer/injury?

• Once called bedsores, pressure injuries are localized damage to the skin and underlying soft tissue, usually over a bony prominence or related to a medical or other device.
• The injury occurs as a result of intense and/or prolonged pressure or pressure in combination with shear.
• The injury can present as intact skin or an open ulcer and may be painful.
• The tolerance of soft tissue for pressure and shear may also be affected by microclimate, nutrition, perfusion, co-morbidities and condition of the soft tissue.

How common are pressure ulcer/injuries?

• Pressure injuries claim the lives of over 60,000 people each year and cost the United States healthcare system over $11 billion annually.
• 2.5 million Americans get pressure injuries every year, and over the past 5 years, the NPIAP has seen a trend of more severe pressure injuries.

Why is prevention important?

• Prevention will reduce the high incidence of pressure ulcer/injuries.
• Prevention can also reduce the pain associated with pressure-related injuries, which may develop into pressure injuries. And a high percentage of resultant pressure injuries lead to death.

Discover how DermaTherapy^® helps prevent pressure ulcers/injuries

About the National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel (NPIAP)

The National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel (NPIAP) is an independent not-for-profit professional organization dedicated to the prevention and management of pressure injuries. The NPIAP serves as a resource to healthcare professionals, government, the public, and healthcare agencies. NPIAP’s collaboration of professionals, corporations, and governmental agencies offers a unique model for addressing major health care issues. The European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel and the Japanese Society of Pressure Ulcers have adapted the NPIAP model in establishing their organizations.

Other professional organizations that have joined the NPIAP’s efforts include: the American Health Care Association, National Center for Assisted Living (Non-Collaborating Organization Council), Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, National Alliance of Wound Care & Ostomy, and Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society for North America.