Geriatrics
Pressure Ulcer Prevention + Treatment
NICE CG179 — risk assessment, repositioning, pressure-relieving devices, dressings by stage.
Source: NICE CG179 (2014, updated)
Step 1 of ~3
info
Risk Assessment + Categorisation
All hospitalised + nursing home residents — Waterlow or Braden score on admission + reassess regularly.
Risk: immobility, malnutrition, incontinence, peripheral vascular disease, sensory deficit, cognitive impairment.
Full skin inspection (heels, sacrum, occiput, ischia, trochanters, elbows).
Classification (NPUAP / EPUAP):
• Cat 1: non-blanching erythema.
• Cat 2: partial-thickness skin loss / blister.
• Cat 3: full-thickness skin loss to subcutaneous fat.
• Cat 4: deep ulcer through fascia / muscle / bone.
• Unstageable: covered by slough / eschar.
• Suspected deep tissue injury: purple intact skin.
Related
Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.
Drugs
- Thiamine (IV/IM — Pabrinex) · Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) — deficiency treatment / Wernicke's encephalopathy prevention
- Valganciclovir · Prodrug Antiviral — CMV Prevention and Treatment (Oral)
- Dextrose 10% IV · IV glucose solution (hypoglycaemia treatment)
- Glucose · Carbohydrate / hypoglycaemia treatment
- Medroxyprogesterone Acetate (DMPA) · Injectable Progestogen Contraceptive / Hormone Treatment
- Demeclocycline hydrochloride · Tetracycline antibiotic / off-label SIADH treatment
Pathways
- Falls Assessment in Older Adults · NICE CG161 2013
- Delirium Outside ICU · NICE CG103
- Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) · BGS / NICE
- Delirium Assessment and Management · NICE CG103 2010
- Frailty Recognition and Management · BGS Frailty Framework / NHS NHSE
- Polypharmacy and Medicines Optimisation · STOPP/START v2 2014 / NICE NG5
Decision support only. Always apply local guidelines and clinical judgement.