Which of the following is not indicated to manage maceration of the periwound skin?

• A. Obtaining Necessary Wound Cultures
• B. Reducing Exposure to Topical Agents
• C. Reporting to the Primary Health Care Provider
• D. Applying Liquid Skin Barrier on Periwound Skin

Answer: (A)

Maceration around the wound happens when the skin is kept too wet, softening and breaking down from excess moisture. The management focus is to dry out and protect the periwound skin while controlling exudate. Obstacles like obtaining wound cultures don’t address moisture balance; cultures are used to detect infection and guide antimicrobial treatment, which is not the goal when the issue is moisture-related skin breakdown. They’re only indicated if there are signs of infection, not for routine maceration care. In contrast, reducing exposure to topical agents helps prevent chemical irritation that can worsen maceration, applying a liquid skin barrier creates a protective layer to shield the skin from moisture, and reporting to the primary health care provider is appropriate if the maceration persists or if infection or non-healing is suspected so care can be adjusted.