Program

Sponsored by Urgo Medical

Commercial Support for this event has been received from Next Science

Biofilms consist of communities of microorganisms enmeshed in an extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) matrix and are often attached to a surface. In many cases biofilms associated with the human body can be detrimental. This includes biofilms that form on medical devices and injured tissue. These biofilms are of concern because they have sophisticated survival strategies and are tolerant to antimicrobial agents and clearance by the immune system. This lecture will review similarities and differences between biofilms in various areas of human health and the mechanisms by which these communities persist.

Wound infection or high bacterial load remains an issue in chronic wounds. In this introductory session, we will explore the incidence and prevalence of wound infections, the unique challenges of acute vs. chronic wounds, the financial and economic factors at play in wound care and wound infection, and the issues that impact patients and providers across wound care settings as we consider the whole patient approach to care.

Scientific research on issues of infection is advancing at a rapid pace, but that does not necessarily mean that it is reaching clinicians in their daily practice. This session will provide an overview of scientific advances in biofilm, topical antiseptic, swab cultures and planktoic bacteria, help define contamination, colonization and other critical terms, and provide an opportunity to discuss the challenges of applying these areas to clinical practice.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HB0) inhibits bacterial growth and reduces inflammation. This lecture focuses on the use of HBOT for infectious disease and inflammatory conditions

Now that we can recognize the research advances, how can we apply what has been learned to the clinical setting? This session considers the stakeholders involved in translating research to practice, how the ideology progresses through these stakeholders and how different host factors sometimes require a different approach.

Each infection is different, but there are certainly some unique challenges presented by Surgical Site Infections (SSIs). In addition to reviewing the causes and issues related to SSIs, this session will explore practical cases of osteomyelitis, the impact of bone biopsies and incision and drainage procedures.

There are conditions such as lymphedema that can create inflammatory changes simulating or promoting skin infections. Understand how to recognize lymphedema and its progression in your practice as its not just on extremities with elephantiasis.   Early recognition, treatment, and management can prevent complications and improve quality of life.  Learn how appropriate compression is only part of the whole treatment when treating patients with lymphatic damage.

In this interactive session, participants will engage with the panel for a multi-disciplinary approach to examining case-based differential diagnosis, identifying gaps in assessment and discussing diagnosis and the complexity of wound infections. Participants are welcome to submit cases for this section.

A patient from a local wound clinic has agreed to share his experience with a chronic wound complicated by infection. He faced the specter of amputation and lived to tell his story.