Chronic Diabetic Foot Ulcers can Lead to Sepsis

Chronic Diabetic Foot Ulcers can Lead to Sepsis
Diabetic foot ulcers are a common problem in patients who have diabetes. The wounds require negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) or a standard moist dressing to prevent infections. In nursing practice, wound care and management are critical as chronic diabetic foot ulcers can lead to sepsis, further necessitating limb amputation. In healthy individuals, acute wounds heal quickly, while in diabetic persons, it takes more time. This paper critically analyzes quantitative and qualitative research studies on vacuum-assisted closure dressing on diabetic foot ulcers. The studies include Farooq et al. (2019), James et al. (2019), Huang et al. (2020), and Cray’s (2017). The studies reveal that negative pressure wound therapy leads to faster healing of diabetic foot ulcers compared to standard moist dressing. This critical appraisal summarizes and analyzes four research studies addressing the PICOT question: In patients with stage 3 diabetic ulcers, how does negative pressure wound therapy compare to a standard moist dressing affect wound healing over two months?
Background of Studies
James et al. (2019) article titled “The comparison of vacuum-assisted closure therapy and conventional dressing on wound healing in patients with diabetic foot ulcer” evaluates the benefit of vacuum-assisted closure therapy in the Indian population. The purpose of the study was to establish the efficacy and safety of vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) in managing diabetic foot ulcers in an Indian population. Farooq et al. (2019) article investigates the outcome of vacuum-assisted closure and dressing over wet dressing. The purpose was to compare the rate of wound healing with negative pressure wound therapy to conventional moist dressings. Cray’s (2017) “Negative pressure wound therapy and nurse education” study aims to determine if the experiences of nurses are comparable to the experiences of patients. A qualitative descriptive study by Huang et al. (2020) explores the experiences of NPWT at home among patients with chronic wounds. The study follows observations that although patients prefer NPWT done at home, they lack the necessary preparedness and health education to make independent medical decisions.
Nursing Practice Problem
James et al. (2019) and Farooq et al. (2019) provide insights into the PICOT question as they demonstrate the effectiveness of VAC negative pressure wound therapy in healing diabetic foot ulcers compared to standard moist dressing. The article by James et al. (2019) found a significant reduction in healing time and ulcer area in vacuum-assisted therapy. Farooq et al. (2019) found that 48% of wounds had reached maximum granulation while using VAC within two weeks. Cray's (2017) and Huang et al. (2020) work also support the selected nursing problem of improving the quality of life and outcomes among patients with stage 3 diabetic ulcers. Cray (2017) offers invaluable information on nurse education enhancement in wound management using NPWT. Huang et al. (2020) have offered insights into the experiences of patients receiving NPWT at home and how such insights can translate to improving the quality of care through patient education.
Method of S...