A new diagnosis on the cards
WOODMEAD – Technology group 3M invited Prof. Fiona Coyer to raise awareness on a relatively new skin diagnosis, Incontinence-Associate Dermatitis.
Innovation and technology group, 3M, based in Woodmead, has taken a lead in the fight against incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD).
Given that it is a new condition, there have been instances where medical health care professionals have struggled to diagnose the skin ailment. IAD, sometimes referred to as perineal dermatitis, is an inflammation of the skin associated with exposure to urine or stools. Babies, elderly adults, and especially those in long-term care facilities, are at risk of urinary or faecal incontinence which result in the condition.
3M’s health care division has launched the Down to Zero Educational Campaign which aims to spread awareness about skin breakdown and open up the dialogue on preventing skin integrity breakdown. The campaign started after discussions with various hospital groups, identifying key quality issues such as peripheral line complications, catheter-related blood stream infections and skin breakdown.
As part of their strategy, they recently hosted the renowned Prof. Fiona Coyer of the School of Nursing, Queensland and University of Technology and Metro North Hospital Health Service in Australia. In a presentation to health professionals from various institutions in Gauteng, Coyer highlighted that some of the main challenges associated with treating the disorder were that it was often misdiagnosed and mistaken for a stage two pressure ulcer.
“IAD is a worldwide healthcare problem. Reported prevalence of IAD in residential to acute… healthcare facilities varies from 18 to 50 percent. Further, IAD significantly impacts on patients and healthcare facilities,” explained Coyer.
Some of the symptoms include itching and burning from raw skin folds. This was aggravated by washing the skin with non-pH balanced soap and water.
3M’s Cavilon No Sting Barrier film is used in the prevention and treatment of the condition. “[The] unique formulation contains polymers that form a waterproof, protective coating to protect the skin from body fluids, adhesives and friction,” said Anika Fourie of the company’s Critical and Chronic Care Solutions Division.
