Personal Hygiene and Pressure Ulcer prevention

Julia Petty, 'Personal Hygiene and Pressure Ulcer prevention', in Susan Macqueen, Elizabeth Bruce and Faith Gibson Eds., The Great Ormond Street Hospital Manual of Children's Nursing Practices. (Oxford: Wiley Blackwell 2012) ISBN: 1405109327Personal hygiene is an important consideration in the holistic care of both the healthy child and one who has specific needs and compromise due to illness, surgery and hospitalisation. A good standard of hygiene is an integral component of daily life and is necessary to maintain dignity and self-esteem as well as to prevent infection. It is essential that maintaining such a standard continues during a child’s time in hospital. Maintaining hygiene can also assist to promote normality in a sick child, enhance comfort and aid psychological well being.Peer reviewe