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ARS Home » Southeast Area » New Orleans, Louisiana » Southern Regional Research Center » Cotton Chemistry and Utilization Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #217590
Title: Preventing Decubitus Ulcers with Cotton Sheeting Systems

Author
item Edwards, Judson - Vince
item Howley, Phyllis
item Prevost, Nicolette
item Batiste, Sarah
item CHEN, JONATHAN - LOUISIANA STATE UNIV.

Submitted to: National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/16/2007
Publication Date: 6/15/2007
Citation: Edwards, J.V., Howley, P.S., Prevost, N.T., Batiste, S.L., Chen, J. 2007. Preventing Decubitus Ulcers with Cotton Sheeting Systems. National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference. p. 1251-1259.

Interpretive Summary: Decubitus pressure ulcers are a worldwide health crisis, and their prevention and treatment has become a national priority. The National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Board estimates that as many as three million people in the United States have pressure ulcers. The causes of the ailment include both extrinsic and intrinsic factors. Patients are at high risk due to numerable intrinsic risk factors including mobility, age, nutrition, sensory preception, and disease. However, reduction of extrinsic risk factors related to the patient's support surface should coincide with decreased incidence of pressure ulcers. Risk factors fundamental to the interfacial forces acting on the bony prominence areas of the patient's body in contact with the support surfaces can be improved upon with innovatively designed medical textile systems, which include cotton bed sheets and wound dressings. The interfacial forces include pressure, shear, and friction. Studies done thus far to prevent pressure ulcers by reducing friction and shear with different woven cotton products have shown promise in wicking moisture away from the patient's body. We have investigated an antibacterial finish with a moisture absorbent component and evaluated the friction component of the cotton yarns. This approach represent an initial effort to the development of bed sore prevention bed sheets which should serve a value-added high volume cotton market, and meet an unmet healthcare need.

Technical Abstract: Decubitus pressure ulcers are a worldwide health crisis and their prevention and treatment has become a national priority. The National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Board estimates that as many as three million people in the United States have pressure ulcers. The causes of the ailment include both extrinsic and intrinsic factors. Patients are at high risk due to numerable intrinsic risk factors including mobility, age, nutrition, sensory perception, and disease. However reduction of extrinsic risk factors related to the patient’s support surface should coincide with decreased incidence of pressure ulcers. Risk factors fundamental to the interfacial forces acting on the bony prominence areas of the patient’s body in contact with the support surfaces can be improved upon with innovatively designed medical textile systems. The interfacial forces include pressure, shear, and friction. Textiles incorporating pressure ulcer detection devices that measure pressure and shear are a growing area of prevention technology. The biophysical design of the support surface and textiles coming in contact with the patient’s body must take into account body temperature, moisture, water transport, and microbial contamination due to incontinence. The application of new polymer gels, foams, woven, non-woven, and multifunctional finishing technologies to medical textile products, engineered to treat pressure ulcers, is required to address improvements in the behavior of support surfaces, the latter including mattresses, cushions, overlays, sheets, and incontinence pads. The best treatment of pressure ulcers is their prevention through optimal care.