Primary care management of wounds. Cleaning, suturing, and infection control.

Nurse practitioners working in primary care are often called upon to assess and repair wounds. This article examines the physiology of wounds, and uses this information to improve assessment skills. Depending on the mechanism of injury, certain wounds may require suturing. The organized examination, appropriate cleaning and debriding, and various suturing techniques are discussed. Special wounds and after-care instructions are covered. Recent changes in infection control technique are examined in terms of their impact on wound care.