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Why does mattress health matter to skin health ? There are two key reasons why it ’ s important to know the state of your mattresses and when it ’ s time to replace them : pressure injury prevention and infection prevention .
Mattresses can help with pressure injury prevention “ A mattress is a piece of the pressure injury prevention puzzle ,” says Anita Meador , Medline Senior Manager , Clinical Resources . In fact , the NPIAP devotes an entire section to support surfaces in their clinical guidelines , underscoring their significance .
“ Support surfaces can mitigate pressure injury risk by redistributing pressure , managing friction and shear , managing the microclimate ,” the NPIAP guidelines state . Different mattresses may
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provide different levels of protection . But no matter your mattress selection , the NPIAP warns that a hard mattress can contribute to the formation of pressure injuries . 3
The NPIAP also explains that an appropriate mattress will do two important things when it comes to preventing pressure injury formation : 3
• Redistribute an individual ’ s weight over a larger area and conform to the shape of their body
• More evenly distribute pressure to avoid concentrating pressure over bony prominences where pressure injuries typically develop
Bottom line , NPIAP guidelines note , “ Support surfaces play a significant role in an individualized comprehensive management plan for pressure injury prevention and treatment .” 3
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50 % of nursing home beds are compromised within 4 years 2
In an assessment of over 5,000 acute care support surfaces , Medline found that 65 % of them required immediate replacement . 1 Of more than 33,000 nursing home surfaces , 50 % were compromised within 4 years . 2
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Mattresses are part of infection control Your facility is already focused on infection prevention , and mattresses should be part of that . “ Mattresses that are faulty are a portal for infection ,” Meador says . When incontinence is an issue , it ’ s important to be even more |
diligent with mattress and mattress cover checks .
The FDA reminds clinicians , “ A hospital bed mattress cover provides outer protection to a mattress by preventing blood and other body fluids from entering the inside ( inner core ) of the mattress .” 4 When mattress covers wear out , they no longer provide this protection , and body fluids can leak out , presenting risk of infection .
Using a mattress with a cover that resists harsh chemical damage can help prolong the life of the cover and the mattress .
What to do when a mattress is failing When you see mattress failure , it ’ s time to do something about it . “ A lot of facilities think someone will let them know if a mattress has a failure ,” Meador says , “ But the truth
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