Best practices for surgical wound management (BJN, 7 August 2025)

Summary

Surgical wound management is critical to postoperative care, influencing patient recovery, infection control, and healthcare costs. Despite advances in surgical techniques, surgical site infections (SSIs) remain a concern, leading to increased morbidity and hospital stays. Standardised, evidence-based practices are essential for improving patient outcomes.

This article in the British Journal of Nursing provides concise, evidence-based guidance on surgical wound management across the preoperative, perioperative, postoperative and discharge phases. It synthesises current guidelines and highlights emerging best practices for health professionals. Best practices require a multidisciplinary approach, strict infection prevention protocols, effective wound closure techniques, and patient education. Variability in clinical application persists, but early-stage innovative methods such as remote wound monitoring show promise in reducing hospital visits, detecting complications early and increasing patient satisfaction.