ABSTRACT
Three themes pervade the current pressure ulcer literature: (1) pressure ulcers are multifactorial, expensive, and painful complications of immobility, increasing morbidity and the risk of mortality; (2) pressure ulcer prevention strategies and treatment effectiveness are a reflection of the quality of care delivered; and (3) prevention is always better than treatment. Given the overwhelming consensus on these three perspectives, the critical focus on maintaining skin integrity is intensifying as the number of frail and vulnerable elderly is increasing in the United States and other developed nations. The spotlight on pressure ulcers has become so intense that treatment and prevention strategies are now scrutinized and used as “quality indicators.” While important gaps in the understanding of effective pressure ulcer prevention and treatment strategies remain (1), pressure ulcer prevention and treatment strategies should, as much as possible, be evidence-based, timely, and effective (2).
