Comparison of the two leading approaches to attending wound care dressings

Many nurses practise wound dressing based upon knowledge of sequential procedural steps rather than understanding the principles underpinning the most effective approaches to wound dressing. Currently two leading dressing approaches, aseptic (clean hand/dirty hand) technique and wound field, are being taught to undergraduate nursing students. Collectively and comparatively, both techniques have evoked some controversy regarding the most appropriate and effective technique to apply. This paper clarifies the differences between these approaches and suggests that both techniques will have similar outcomes providing the principles of minimising or eliminating risks associated with contamination are practised.