The growing risk of antimicrobial resistance – the new pandemic – has identified the importance of accurate wound assessment and the ability to prevent or manage wound infections in a timely and effective manner. This session will present and explore the updated International Wound Infection Institute’s (IWII) 2022 consensus document. All chapters have been updated supported by the inclusion of clear definitions developed through an international Delphi process. The Wound Infection Continuum has been updated with the addition of a Wound Infection Continuum complete with a management guide allowing the user to plan a holistic approach to managing wound infection. Antimicrobial stewardship is discussed throughout the document with updated research and evidence presented exploring topical antimicrobial therapy.

Surgical wounds are intended to heal after the completion of the surgical procedure. In this session we will discuss the identification and management of postoperative incisional infections, wound dehiscence and the options for topical management of these serious patient conditions. Prevention of this type of serious patient complication is a more favourable outcome, we will discuss current strategies to prepare a patient with a pre-habilitation approach to surgical complications. This session will use case scenarios to provide a real life clinical experience.

This session will cover the initial management of burn injuries and how to prevent infection. Why infection and sepsis is common in the burn injured patient. Differentiating between sepsis and the hypermetabolic response. How to treat and prevent infection of the burn wounds. How to treat and prevent sepsis in the burn injured patient.

What makes a wound complicated? Any non-healing wound can be described as complicated, but some are more complicated than others! Complicated wounds are usually found on patients with complex medical problems. Often complicated wound aetiology is multifactorial, but outcomes are significantly worse with underlying vascular disease. Medical optimisation and risk factor modification is required to treat the rest of the individual too.

Vascular disease covers many of the common wounds such as arterial ulceration, venous leg ulcers, mixed arterial-venous ulceration and diabetic foot disease. Vascular surgeons aim to optimise the arterial supply through revascularisation procedures such as angioplasty, endarterectomy and bypass, and reduce venous hypertension through superficial venous ablation, deep venous stenting and extrinsic compression.

Revascularisation is only one stage of the process however and optimisation of healing conditions also requires sepsis source control through debridement and amputation, and wound -management strategies to optimise function as well as ensure healing.