Medical dressing is a sterile pad or compress applied to a wound to promote healing and protect the wound from further harm. Medical dressing is designed to be in direct contact with the wound, as distinguished from a bandage, which is most often used to hold a dressing in place. Medical dressings can also regulate the chemical environment of a wound, usually with the aim of preventing infection by the impregnation of topical antiseptic chemicals. Commonly used antiseptics include povidone-iodine, boracic lint dressings or historically castor oil. Antibiotics are also often used with medical dressings to prevent bacterial infection. Medical dressings are also often impregnated with analgesics to reduce pain.
Wounds that do not heal within the standard healing time result in infections and become difficult to manage. Therefore, regular hospital visits for check-ups and wound dressings is a must. Nursing Services at home offer wound care to patients in the comfort of their home. They are trained in providing sterile wound dressing and pain management. Because, Sterility is necessary to prevent infection from pathogens resident within the medical dressing. Applying and changing medical dressings is one common task of medical personnel.