COVID-Related Skin Injuries

Thankfully the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic is over, but there is no doubt that the public health crisis brought new challenges to the wound care world.  There has been profound impact upon caregivers and patients, including the epidemiology of skin lesions such as pressure injuries.  The reverberations of the pandemic are still lingering, and this post will call attention to major concerns. Impact of COVID-19 on Pressure Injury Epidemiology The impact of SARS-CoV-2 on the occurrence of pressure injuries is substantial. Patients with severe respiratory disease and extended ICU admissions while on life support such as ventilation and feeding tubes become at increased risk for skin breakdown.  Prone positioning for maximization of pulmonary function renders the skin of the chest and knees at increased risk.  The months of mandated isolation when visitors were restricted caused many nursing home residents to become depressed, with consequences of decreased appetite, weight loss, and increased risk for pressure injuries.  The constellation of acute and chronic illnesses can combine to result in skin failure, a topic I have discussed elsewhere.  Once a pressure injury occurs, healing can take months, and often continues long after the original COVID-related injury resolves.  Pre-existing chronic illness such as diabetes, COPD, vascular disease, anemia, and malnutrition can add to risk for developing pressure injuries and prolongation of the healing process.  Mandatory us...
Source: Jeffrey M. Levine MD | Geriatric Specialist | Wound Care | Pressure Ulcers - Category: Geriatrics Authors: Tags: Featured Medical Articles Geriatric Medicine Pressure Injuries & Wound Care bedsores coronavirus COVID COVID-19 decubiti decubitus ulcer Healthcare Quality Improving Medical Care pandemic pressure sore pressure sores pressure u Source Type: blogs