FOURTEENTH ANNUAL EUROPEAN PRESSURE ULCER ...

Thursday September 1st
Negative airflow technology for microclimate management; pre-clinical data
Joyce Black
Moisture accumulation on the skin and increase in skin temperature, in conjunction with mechanical forces,
can lead to tissue breakdown and potential ulcer formation. Controlling microclimate is an important and
often overlooked area of pressure ulcer prevention. The Skin IQ MCM is a multilayer (vapor-permeable
liquid-impermeable layers with a foam spacer in between) powered coverlet that uses a fan blower to
draw air flow (Negative Airflow Technology) through the spacer. This way it helps reduce warm air and
moisture contact with the patient’s skin. A clinical assessment of the product showed that the use of active
negative airflow technology with the Skin IQ microclimate manager reduced local moisture levels and
skin temperature when compared to controls. Additional in vitro experiments were conducted to assess the
ability of the microclimate manger to affect bacterial growth and control odor. Data showed that both bacterial
growth and odor were significantly reduced with the coverlet.
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