The burden of wound care in the community

• In Australia, the estimated cost of managing a patient with a stage IV pressure ulcers is $61,320 per ulcer.
• Cost includes average hospital costs (including wound dressing materials) plus costs associated with community support and care on discharge from hospital.
• In addition to improving the quality of life of patients, decreasing pressure ulcer wound healing time can provide significant cost savings to the community.
• Dietary intervention studies indicate that patients who receive nutritional support tend to develop fewer pressure ulcers, and heal pressure ulcers more quickly than those patients without nutritional support.
• A recent study conducted by the Austin Hospital has shown that arginine supplementation was associated with significant reduction in healing rates. The benefits associated with arginine supplementation, based on projected decreases in the time to healing, provide a compelling argument for the routine use of arginine supplementation in patients with a pressure ulcer.

For more information on the benefits of specialsed nutrition in wound care, contact your Nestlé Healthcare Nutrition representative.