How to Change a Wound Dressing

Last Updated: January 24, 2023 References

A wound dressing helps to protect an injury from infection. However, wound dressings need to be changed every so often to make sure that the dressing is doing its job correctly. To change a wound dressing, you will need to take some time beforehand to prepare. You will also need to know how to monitor the wound after you have changed the dressing.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Preparing to Change a Wound Dressing

1
Gather all of the necessary materials. Changing the wound dressing will be much more efficient if you do not have to go looking for materials in the middle of changing your dressing. Things to gather before you begin include:
- A cleanser to clean the wound, such as a saline solution.
- Sterile dressing, like sterile gauze or a pre-packaged dressing.
- Tape that can fasten and stabilize the wound dressing.
- Disposable gloves to protect your hand from any debris found in the wound and to protect your wound from harmful microbes on your hand.
2
Wash your hands. This will help to remove bacteria from your hands that could transfer to the wound when you change the dressing. Hands harbor a lot of harmful microbes, thus it becomes imperative to limit the number of microbes you expose the wound to.^{[1]
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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- Wash your hands with warm water and soap for 40 seconds to a minute. The World Health Organization suggests that you wet your hands. Work up soap into a lather in your hands and then scrub your palms, the backs of your hands, each finger, and all the space in between your fingers—in that order. Rinse your hands with clean water. Dry your hands on a clean towel.^{[2]
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  World Health Organization
  Health information and news provided by the World Health Organization
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3
Put on a pair of clean gloves. After performing the proper hand washing technique described above, you can perform wound dressing with your bare hands. However, as an added precaution, you should wear disposable gloves.^{[3]
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- Handwashing eliminates most microbes but can leave a few bacteria behind.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Changing the Wound Dressing

1
Remove the old dressing. To make this process easier, pour liberal amounts of water on the dressing so that the edges of the tape loosen up. You could also try wetting the bandage with a cotton ball that has been dipped in a saline solution.^{[4]
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MedlinePlus
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- You could also use an unopened, sterile bottle of water to clean the wound.
2
Assess your wound. When you have uncovered your wound, take a look at it to see if there are any signs of infection. Note any foul smelling odor, drainage (and what color the drainage is) and the physical appearance of the wound.^{[5]
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- It is normal to see redness and swelling during the first few days after you receive the wound, but any foul smell or draining pus, or exudate, means that your wound is infected. Report these signs to your doctor immediately.
3
Apply the new dressing.^{[6]
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National Health Service (UK)
Public healthcare system of the UK
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Research source
Lipsky, B. (2009). Topical Antimicrobial Therapy for Treating Chronic Wounds. Seattle: Clinical Infectious Diseases. pp. 1541 – 1549.}
- Do not use an antibacterial cream for an extended period of time.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Monitoring the Wound

1
Keep the dressing clean and dry. moisture that stays on the wound can stimulate the growth of bacteria and fungus, causing the wound to become infected. If the dressing gets wet, change it.^{[8]
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MedlinePlus
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- If the dressing is soiled with blood or drainage, or becomes soiled with mud or dirt, you should change the dressing.
2
Keep your body clean. By keeping your body clean, you can limit the number of bacteria that your wound is exposed to. However, you should consider taking a sponge bath, as soaking a wound in a bathtub is likely to expose it many microorganisms.
- You can take a shower to clean yourself, but try to limit the amount of water that gets on the wound.^{[9]
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3
Report any unusual changes in your wound. Call your doctor if you see signs of infection, or if any strange things occur around the wound.^{[10]
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- Again, if you have a bad smelling odor coming from your wound, pus coming out of the wound, or excessive amounts of pain, call your doctor.
4
See your doctor if the wound is not healing. If your wound has not begun to heal after a few days, there is most likely something wrong. Set up an appointment and meet with your doctor so that the doctor can take a look at your wound.

References

↑ https://www.cdc.gov/features/handwashing/index.html
↑ https://www.who.int/gpsc/5may/Hand_Hygiene_Why_How_and_When_Brochure.pdf
↑ https://www.stjude.org/treatment/patient-resources/caregiver-resources/patient-family-education-sheets/tracheostomy-care/how-to-put-on-sterile-gloves.html
↑ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000040.htm
↑ https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/wound-drainage
↑ https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/accidents-first-aid-and-treatments/how-do-i-apply-plasters-and-other-dressings/
↑ Lipsky, B. (2009). Topical Antimicrobial Therapy for Treating Chronic Wounds. Seattle: Clinical Infectious Diseases. pp. 1541 – 1549.
↑ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000315.htm
↑ https://www.lhch.nhs.uk/media/1112/wound-care-discharge-advice-march-15.pdf

More References (1)

↑ https://healthywa.wa.gov.au/Articles/U_Z/Wounds

Expert Q&A

Question

Should I change the dressing daily for a wound on a diabetic foot?

Jonas DeMuro, MD
Board Certified Critical Care Surgeon
Dr. DeMuro is a board certified Pediatric Critical Care Surgeon in New York. He received his MD from Stony Brook University School of Medicine in 1996. He completed his fellowship in Surgical Critical Care at North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System and was a previous American College of Surgeons (ACS) Fellow.

Jonas DeMuro, MD

Board Certified Critical Care Surgeon

Expert Answer

Most dressings are changed daily, although some are designed to stay in longer, such as an alginate, and some dressings need more frequent changes if the wound is highly infected. Follow your doctor's instructions on the proper frequency for the optimal outcome.
Question

Can I wrap my wound in plastic while I am taking a shower?

Jurdy Dugdale, RN
Medical Review Board
Jurdy Dugdale is a Registered Nurse in Florida. She received her Nursing License from the Florida Board of Nursing in 1989.

Jurdy Dugdale, RN

Medical Review Board

Expert Answer

Yes, you can, and there are special plastic covers made for this that you can purchase from your local drug store.
Question

Should we put anything inside the wound?

Jurdy Dugdale, RN
Medical Review Board
Jurdy Dugdale is a Registered Nurse in Florida. She received her Nursing License from the Florida Board of Nursing in 1989.

Jurdy Dugdale, RN

Medical Review Board

Expert Answer

Never put anything directly into a wound or else you could cause further damage.