A nurse is caring for a client who has multiple sclerosis and a chronic nonhealing wound. The nurse should recognize that which of the following types of medications is known to delay wound healing?

Choice A rationale
Preparing a discard bag next to the wound is a practical step in the process, but it is not the most critical action to prevent infection.

Choice B rationale
Remaining very still during the procedure is important, but it does not directly relate to maintaining the sterility of the dressing change.

Choice C rationale
Restraining from moving the patient is not typically necessary unless the patient is at risk of causing harm to themselves or disrupting the procedure.

Choice D rationale
Changing gloves after removing the old dressing is crucial to maintain sterility. The old dressing may be contaminated, and fresh gloves reduce the risk of introducing bacteria to the clean wound.

Choice A rationale
Vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) therapy aids in wound healing primarily by applying negative pressure to draw the wound edges together. This not only helps reduce the size of the wound but also promotes blood flow to the area, which can accelerate healing.

Choice B rationale
While VAC therapy does support the underlying structures of the wound, its primary function is not to strengthen the wall of the wound. The negative pressure assists in removing excess fluid and reducing edema, which indirectly supports the wound structure.

Choice C rationale
VAC therapy does have an impact on bacterial levels within the wound by helping to remove infectious materials. However, its main purpose is not to interrupt bacteria proliferation; this is more directly achieved through antibiotic therapy and proper wound care techniques.

Choice D rationale
While VAC does create a cover over the wound, its main purpose is to apply negative pressure to the wound area. This negative pressure helps to draw the wound edges together, promotes the removal of exudate and potentially infectious material, and stimulates the growth of new tissue, which aids in the healing process12. The occlusive cover is part of the system that allows the negative pressure to be maintained, but it is the negative pressure itself, not the cover, that provides the therapeutic benefit.