Best Practice Documents

Disclaimer: Inclusion in list below does not necessarily indicate endorsement of contents by RWV.

Topics: A-Z

Atypical Wounds

• Atypical wounds - Best Clinical Practices and challenges. European Wound Management Association.(2019) 
• Understanding Hidradenitis Suppurativa. World Union of Wound Healing Societies Position Document. (2016)
• British Association of Dermatologists' guidelines for the management of bullous pemphigoid,  British Journal of Dermatology. (2012)
• Consensus recommendations for the diagnosis, treatment and control of Mycobacterium Ulcerans infection (Bairnsdale or Buruli ulcer) in Victoria.  The Medical Journal of Australia. (2006)  
• International Consensus: Best practice guidelines. Skin and wound care in epidermolysis bullosa. Wounds UK. (2017)

Arterial Ulcers & Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD)

• Peripheral Arterial Disease - Diagnosis and Management. NICE. (2018).
• Clinical vascular screening of the foot: For life and limb. McAra S, Trevethan R, Wang L, Tinley P (2017) Diabetes & Primary Care Australia 2: 16–24 Diabetes & Primary Care Australia. (2017)

Debridement & Wound Hygiene

• NEW 2023: Slough: Composition, analysis and effect on healing. Wounds International (2023)
• Debridement - Canadian Best Practice Recommendations for Nurses. Nurses specialized in wound, ostomy and continence Canada. (2021)
• The role of larval debridement therapy in the management of lower limb wounds. Consensus Document. Wounds UK (2020)  
• International Consensus Document: Defying hard-to-heal wounds with an early antibiofilm intervention strategy: wound hygiene.  Journal of Wound Care. (2020)
• Debridement -An updated overview and clarification of the principle role of debridement European Wound Management Association (2013)
• Maintenance Debridement in the Treatment of Difficult-to-Heal Chronic Wounds: Ostomy  and Wound Management. (2008).

Diabetes-related foot disease

• Australian guideline on prevention of foot ulceration: part of the 2021 Australian evidence-based guidelines for diabetes-related foot disease.  Journal Foot Ankle Research (2022).
• Evidence Based Australian Guidelines for Diabetic Related Foot Disease. Diabetes Feet Australia (2021)

Exudate

• Wound Exudate: Effective assessment and management. World Union of Wound Healing Societies. (2019)

High Risk Foot (Including 'Diabetic Foot')

• International Working Group on the Diabetic Foot (IWGDF) Guidelines. (2019)
• Local Management of Diabetic Foot Ulcers. World Union of Wound Healing Societies. Position document. (2016) 
• Podiatry Competency Framework for Integrated Diabetic Foot Care: A User’s  Guide. TRIEPodD-UK. (2012).
• National Evidenced-Based Guideline on Prevention, Identification and Management of Foot Complications in Diabetes. Baker IDI Melbourne Australia. (2011)

Hyperkeratosis

• Management of hyperkeratosis of the lower limb: Consensus recommendations.  Wounds UK.(2015) 
• All Wales Guidance for the: management of hyperkeratosis of the lower limb. All Wales Tissue Viability Nurse Forum. (2014)

Incontinence Associated Dermatitis (IAD) and other forms of Moisture Associated Skin Damage (MASD)

•  NEW in 2021: Best Practice Recommendations - Prevention and Management of Peri-wound Skin Complications. Wounds International. (2021)
•  NEW in 2020: Best practice recommendations for the prevention and management of moisture-associated skin damage. LeBlanc K, Forest-Lalande L, Rajhathy E, Parsons L, Hill M, Kuhnke JL, et al. In: Foundations of Best Practice for Skin and Wound Management. A supplement of Wound Care Canada.(2020)
  
• IAD with Suspected Infection Guidelines  Incorporating the Ghent Global IAD Categorisation Tool (GLOBIAD) and Antimicrobial Stewardship Recommendations, developed in Victoria, Australia by RWV collaboration with VICNISS (Healthcare Associated Infection Surveillance), Grampians region infection control group, Barwon Health, QUT (Queensland University of Technology) and NCAS (National Centre for Antimicrobial Stewardship). (2024)
• Assessment, Prevention and Treatment of Moisture-Associated Skin Damage (MASD) in Adults & Children. British Columbia Provincial Nursing Skin & Wound Committee Guideline. (2019)
• GLOBIAD - Ghent Global IAD Categorisation Tool - Ghent University. (2017) 
• Best Practice Principles: Incontinence-associated dermatitis: moving prevention forward. Wounds International. (2015)
• All Wales Best Practice Statement - Prevention and Management of Moisture Lesions. All Wales Tissue Viability Nurse Forum and All Wales Continence Forum. (2014)
• A Practical Approach to the Prevention and Management of Intertrigo, or Moisture-associated Skin Damage, due to Perspiration: Wound Care Canada. (2013)

Infection - Prevention and management

• NEW in 2022: Wound infection in clinical practice. Principles of best practice. International Wound Infection Institute. International consensus update. Wounds International (2022)
  
• The role of non-medicated dressings for the management of wound infection. World Union of Wound Healing Societies (2020)
• Surgical site infection: preventing and managing surgical site infection across health care sectors. J Wound Care 2020; 29: 2, Suppl 2b, S1–S69
• Australian Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Infection in Healthcare.  Commonwealth of Australia, National Health and Medical Research Council. 2019 v.11.22 Jan 2024
• Management of Biofilm. World Union of Wound Healing Societies Position Document. (2016)
• Ten Top Tips: Understanding and managing wound biofilm. Journal of lymphoedema. (2014)
• Practice Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Skin and Soft-Tissue Infections. Infectious Disease Society of America. (2014) 
• International Consensus: Appropriate use of silver dressings in wounds.  Wounds International. (2012)
• Best Practice Statement: The use of topical antiseptic/antimicrobial agents in wound management. Wounds UK.  (2011)
• Management of Wound Infection. European Wound Management Association (EWMA) - Position document. (2006)

Lymphoedema / Lipoedema

• Best Practice Guidellines. The management of Lipoedema. Wounds UK. (2017)
• Lymphoedema GP Toolkit: The Victorian and Tasmanian PHN Alliance (2018)
• Consensus document on the management of cellulitis in lymphoedema -British Lymphology Society (2016)
• Management of Cellulitis in Lymphoedema - Australasian Lymphology Association (2012), Position Statement
• The Management of Secondary Lymphoedema - A guide for health professionals. National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre (2008)
• Lymphoedema Bandaging in Practice Wounds International: European Wound Management Association (2009)
• Lymphoedema Framework. Best Practice for the Management of Lymphoedema. International consensus. MEP Ltd. (2006)
• Best Practice for the management of Lymphoedema -2n Edition, Compression Therapy: a position document on compression bandaging.  (2012)
• International Lymphoedema Framework - Publications 
• Best Practice Management of Lymphoedema - International Consensus, (2006)

Pain (Wound-related)

• Minimising pain at wound dressing related procedures - World Union of Wound Healing Societies: A consensus document (2004)
• Pain at wound dressing changes  Position document (2002)

Pressure Injury

• NEW in 2020: Device Related Pressure Ulcers. SECURE prevention. Covid-19 update-Avoiding skin damage from masks and PPE.  Journal of Wound Care International Consensus Document (2020)
• NEW in 2020: Unavoidable Pressure Injury during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Position Paper from the National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel (2020)
  
• NEW in 2019: Prevention and Treatment of Pressure Ulcers/Injuries: Clinical Practice Guideline. The International Guideline (2019)
• NEW in 2020: Preventing pressure injuries and wound management Key Actions for health service organisations. Australian
  Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care.
• The role of dressings in pressure ulcer prevention. World Union of Wound Healing Societies (2016)
• Pan Pacific Pressure Injury. Prevention and Treatment of Pressure Ulcers/Injuries: Clinical Practice Guideline; The International Guideline (2014). International Pressure Injury Advisory Panel
• Pan Pacific Pressure Injury Alliance - Classification System Resource Posters and flow charts for classification of pressure injuries for varying skin tones. 
• Canadian Best Practice Guidelines for the Prevention and Management of Pressure Ulcers in People with Spinal Cord Injury: A resource handbook for clinicians, Houghton PE, Campbell KE and CPG Panel (2013)
• The SCALE expert panel: Skin Changes At Life's End, Final Consensus Document,  Sibbald, RG., Krasner, D., Lutz, JB. et al. (2009)

Skin Health, Integrity, Safety 

• NEW in 2020: Holistic Strategies to Promote and Maintain Skin Integrity (2020) Best Practice Recommendations: Wounds International: ISTAP
• NEW 2020: Prevention and management of Moisture-Associated Skin Damage (MASD) International Best Practice Recommendations. Wounds International. (2020)
• Best Practice in Emollient Therapy, A statement for healthcare professionals, Dermatological Nursing, (2012), Vol 11 No 4
• Best Practice Statement. Care of the Older Person’s Skin. London: Wounds UK (2012),  2nd edition

Skin Tears

• NEW 2020: Best Practice Statement. Management of lower limb skin tears in adults. Wounds UK. (2020)
• The ISTAP is dedicated to the prevention, awareness and management of skin tears. Skin Tear tool kit, consensus statements,  International Skin Tear Advisory Panel, educational resources
• Best Practice Recommendations for the prevention and management of skin tears in aged skin, Wounds International (2018)

Surgical Wounds

• NEW in 2020: Surgical site infection: preventing and managing surgical site infection across health care sectors (2020) J Wound Care; 29: 2, Suppl 2b, S1–S69
  
• Surgical wound dehiscence: improving prevention and outcomes (2018), Consensus document: World Union of Wound Healing Societies (WUWHS)
  
• Best Practice Recommendations for the Prevention and Management of Surgical Wound Complications (2018), Wounds Canada 

Topical Negative Pressure

• Closed surgical incision management: Understanding the role of NPWT (2016), Consensus document: World Union of Wound Healing Societies (WUWHS)
  
• EWMA document: negative pressure wound therapy: overview, challenges and perspectives (2017), J Wound Care, 2; 3, Suppl, 

Venous Leg Ulcers, Chronic Venous Insufficiency & Compression therapy

• NEW 2023: Best Practice Statement. The use of compression therapy for peripheral oedema: considerations in people with heart failure. Wounds UK (2023)
• NEW 2022: Patients presenting with "Red Legs". Differential diagnosis and the role of compression. Wounds International Best Practice Statement. (2022)
• NEW 2022: Best Practice Statement. Holistic management of venous leg ulceration (second Ed) Wounds Uk (2022)
• Best Practice Statement. Compression hosiery: A patient-centric approach. Wounds UK (2021)
• Assessment and Management of Venous Leg Ulcers (2004, Revised 2007) Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario
• Australian and New Zealand Clinical Practice Guideline for Prevention and Management of Venous Leg Ulcers (2012), Wounds Australia. Please refer to the Wounds Australia Website for 'Abridged  Version', 'Flow Chart  for Assessment of Venous Leg Ulcers'  and order forms
• Management of patients with venous leg ulcers: challenges and current best practice (2016), J Wound Care, 25; 6, Suppl.
• Simplifying Venous Leg Ulcer Management (2015), Consensus Recommendations, Wounds International
• Principles of compression in venous disease: a practitioner's guide to treatment and prevention of venous leg ulcers (2013) Wounds International
• Compression in venous leg ulcers: a WUWHS consensus document (2009)
• New guidelines from the Thrombosis and Haemostasis Society of Australia and New Zealand for the diagnosis and management of venous thromboembolism (2019) Guideline summary
• The Diagnosis and Management of Venous Thromboembolism: Guidelines of the Thrombosis and Haemostasis Society of Australia and New Zealand Full guideline
• NEW in 2019:  S.T.R.I.D.E. professional guide to compression garment selection for the lower extremity (2019), J Wound Care, 28; 6, Suppl.