Final answer:
Nurses should intervene with diligent wound care, repositioning, and monitoring to treat and prevent complications from pressure ulcers. Aggressive antibiotic therapy and additional tests are recommended for infections like necrotizing fasciitis.
Step-by-step explanation:
Nursing interventions for the treatment of pressure ulcers, also known as bedsores, are crucial to managing these wounds and preventing serious complications such as infection. Upon identifying a pressure ulcer, the nurse should take several steps. First, alleviate the pressure on the affected area by repositioning the patient regularly, and use supports such as pillows or foam padding.
Next, they should clean the ulcer with appropriate wound-care solutions, remove necrotic tissue via debridement, and apply dressings that promote a moist healing environment and maintain proper wound hygiene. It is also important for the nurse to manage any concurrent infections with the appropriate use of antibiotics and pay attention to nutritional needs that support wound healing. For deep or severe wounds, consult with wound care specialists and consider the use of advanced therapies like negative pressure wound therapy.
Monitoring for signs of infection, such as increased redness, swelling, and pain around a wound site, is an important aspect of aftercare for skin injuries. If signs of infection such as these are noted after a cut or abrasion is cleaned and bandaged, it may warrant additional care to prevent the spread of infection. In the case described, where a patient such as Mark is showing symptoms of a rapidly progressing infection like necrotizing fasciitis, the doctor would likely recommend additional tests including blood cultures and imaging studies, along with aggressive antibiotic therapy and possibly surgical intervention to remove necrotic tissue and stop the spread of the infection.