The Use of Prophylactic Foam Dressings for Prevention of Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injuries

PURPOSE: The purpose of this systematic review was to identify and evaluate the use of prophylactic foam dressings for prevention of hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs). METHODS: A systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items of Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis Statement (PRISMA). SEARCH STRATEGY: Four researchers independently conducted searches in Health Source, Cochrane of Systematic Reviews, CINAHL, and PubMed. Search terms included: “pressure* OR skin breakdown AND sacrum*”; “ICU patient* OR critical care patient*”; and “foam dressing OR prophylactic* or prevent*.” FINDINGS: The search identified 380 articles; 14 met eligibility criteria. The methodological quality of the included studies was variable. Findings from all studies included in our review support a decrease in HAPI incidence with use of sacral foam dressings. IMPLICATIONS: Findings from this review suggest that prophylactic foam dressings decrease sacral HAPI occurrences in critical care patients. While additional research is needed, current best evidence supports use of prophylactic foam sacral dressings for patients at risk for HAPI.