ACP Releases Two New Guidelines Addressing Prevention, Treatment of Pressure Ulcers

​The American College of Physicians (ACP) has developed two new clinical practice guidelines on the prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers in hospitalized patients, both of which are published in the March 3, 2015, issue of Annals of Internal Medicine. The first guideline, Risk Assessment and Prevention of Pressure Ulcers: A Clinical Practice Guideline from the American College of Physicians, is designed to present the evidence and provide clinical recommendations based on the comparative effectiveness of risk assessment scales and preventive interventions for pressure ulcers. Recommendations include that clinicians should (1) perform a risk assessment to identify patients who are at risk of developing pressure ulcers, (2) choose advanced static mattresses or advanced static overlays for patients who are at an increased risk of developing pressure ulcers, and (3) avoid using alternating-air mattresses or alternating-air overlays in patients who are at an increased risk of developing pressure ulcers.