Education of nurses in steps of algorithm for applying of local ozone therapy as innovativemethod in complex treatment of soft tissue infections

Information for nursing staff, 2022, 55(3), 26-32.

P. Marinova-Kichikova

Department of Surgical Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University – Pleven

Abstract. Soft tissue infections are a serious pathology accompanying humans since ancient ages. The treatment of severe and deep soft tissue infections, especially those combined with fascial necrosis, is complex and involves a multidisciplinary team. The purpose of the present study is to educate nurses for the rules and technique of applying local ozone therapy (LOT) in patients with soft tissue infections, to train them in the steps of the algorithm and the principles of care of complicated surgical wounds in the postoperative period through application of local ozone therapy as element of complex treatment. Results: We applied local ozone therapy (LOT) to a total of 84 patients (22.1%) of all 380 patients with soft tissue infections treated for the period March 2022-March 2023 at First Surgical Clinic, Department “Surgical diseases”, Medical University – Pleven, Bulgaria. Total of 84 patients were treated by LOT. There were 65 patients with superficial inflammatory processes and 19 with deep soft tissue infections and necrotizing fasciitis who received LOT. We compared the results with a group of 296 patients treated with conventional methods and routinely used antiseptics – povidone iodine and hexachlorhexidine. We observed statistically significant results in the LOT group: wound size reduction by 25% on the 5th day of treatment (p < 0.04), reduction by 50% of baseline C-reactive protein levels on day 5th of treatment (p < 0.05), local status of the wound on the 30th day after discharge, as in the LOT group we did not observe any complaints of redness, itching or other local discomfort (p < 0.05). We developed and applied an algorithm for the local application of ozone therapy and trained the nurses in the surgical department in steps of LOT in complex wound care.

Key words: soft tissue infections, fasciitis, local ozone therapy, algorithm

Address for correspondence: Polina Georgieva Marinova-Kichikova, e-mail: polina_g.marinova@abv.bg