Education Curriculum Outline
Introduction
This outline curriculum is intended for persons who are planning to either give or attend a course on
wound infection. It is not a course in itself, but an outline of the aims and learning outcomes that we
would expect to be achieved at different levels, as well as the type of materials that would be
provided. Some slides are included, but we would expect any course to provide considerably more
detail in terms of content and variety of materials.
Curricula outlines for the following modules are included:
Fundamental (main
objective = to know)
Intermediate (main
objectives = to understand
and apply)
Advanced (main
objectives = to analyse,
synthesise and
evaluate)
Microbiology
Microbiology Fundamental
Microbiology Intermediate
Microbiology Advanced
Assessment &
Diagnosis
Assessment and diagnosis
Fundamental
Assessment and diagnosis
Intermediate
Assessment and
diagnosis Advanced
Management
& Evaluation
Management and
Evaluation Fundamental
Management and
Evaluation Intermediate
Management and
Evaluation Advanced

The Fundamental level is for students and newly qualified clinician, HCAs, assistant
practitioners (and may also be suitable for lay people)

The Intermediate level is for interested clinicians and those new in specialist posts

The Advanced level is for experienced specialist clinicians
However it is recognised that depending on their background or discipline, people may need to
access different levels within each area, for example intermediate microbiology but advanced
assessment and diagnosis.
The aims and objectives for each module within the outline curriculum are provided in each of the
module explanations that are laid out below.
The slide sets attached within each module include key definitions, examples and diagrams. All
additional appropriate materials within each module should be included. We also refer to essential
reading within each module.
We anticipate that each module will be equivalent to 150 hours of study, providing opportunities for
students to gain continuing professional educational points according to their respective national
systems.
International Wound Infection Institute Curriculum Outline – November 2009
1
Microbiology Fundamental (MF)
Overall aim:
The aim of the module is to give the student an understanding of microbiology and epidemiology
within the context of wound infection
Learning outcomes:
On completion of the module, students will be able to:
Explore how microbes exist and function
Differentiate the different types of microbes and their significance in wounds
Describe common microbes relevant to wounds (common causative agents)
Have an understanding of the frequency of wound infection in healthcare environment
Relate this knowledge to your clinical practice
Have an understanding of common terminology related to wound infection
Suggested Content:
The different types of microbes, eg bacteria, fungus, virus, parasite
Explanation of cell structure and function
Classification of bacteria, eg Gram positive and negative bacteria, aerobes and anaerobes
Typical growth requirements of microbes
Normal distribution of bacteria in humans
Pathogens and non-pathogens
Bacteria commonly found in wounds
Causes of infected wounds, dog bites etc.., normal and exceptional bacteria
Epidemiology – surgical site infection data, chronic wound infection data, general data on
Hospital Acquired Infections, localised infection prevention and control information
Understanding of local infection policy and implications for patient care – (risk reduction
reduced hospital admission, prevention of cross infection, reduced antibiotic usage and
appropriate antimicrobial use)
Glossary of terms
International Wound Infection Institute Curriculum Outline – November 2009
2
Assessment & diagnosis fundamental (AF)
Overall aim :
The aim of the module is to give the student knowledge of local, host and environmental factors
which should be considered when assessing the risk or presence of wound infection
Learning outcomes:
On completion of the module students will be able to:
Understand the risk of infection within the context of the patient care environment
Identify the patient risk factors
Identify wound related factors which may increase the risk of infection
Have an understanding of the infection continuum
Identify the general signs and symptoms of infection
Utilise the information gathered to suggest provisional diagnosis
Suggested Content:
Examples of environmental factors- where the patient is cared for and the risks associated, eg
presence of domestic pets, other individuals within that environment (hospital ward or nursing
home)
Examples of systemic factors – diabetes, ischaemia, age, incontinence
Wound factors – duration, location, wound bed, type
Definitions –explain continuum, contamination, colonisation, critical colonisation (in debate) local
and systemic infection (terminology to match the WU guideline on infection)
General clinical signs and symptoms
Purpose, technique and evaluation of wound swabbing
International Wound Infection Institute Curriculum Outline – November 2009
3
Management Fundamental (MF)
Overall aim:
The aim of this module is to give students an understanding of how to manage a patient with or at
risk of a wound infection
Learning outcomes:
On completion of the module, students will be able to:
Identify patients who are at risk of or who have a wound infection in order to plan and deliver
appropriate care
Identify how environmental and systemic factors should be adjusted in order to reduce the risk or
presence of infection
Identify strategies for optimising the wound bed to prevent or manage wound infection
Know when to make appropriate referrals
Suggested Content:
Brief summary of key assessment criteria – setting management objectives, patient objectives and
wound specific objectives
Ensuring that expectations are realistic, achievable and patient focussed
Strategies to optimise the local environment – debridement, cleansing, infection control, moisture
balance, appropriate use of dressings, good wound bed preparation
Communication with the multidisciplinary team
How to choose and use an appropriate wound dressing –antimicrobial or occlusive dressings
Include dressing change frequency, cleansing solutions, dressing technique (Saline/tap water debate
and socially clean versus aseptic technique)
Systemic antibiotics – when to use
Working within local policies and procedures – use of local formularies, dressings and types of
microorganisms
Evaluation of objectives and management
International Wound Infection Institute Curriculum Outline – November 2009
4
Microbiology intermediate (MI):
Overall aim:
The aim of this module is to allow students to understand and critically appraise microbiology and
epidemiology within the context of wound infection.
Learning outcomes:
On completion of the module, students will be able to:
Understand the growth and pathogenicity of micro-organisms
Identify the pathogenicity of common bacterial species and their role in wound infection
Appreciate how common pathogens colonise a wound and how they spread
Explain why bacteria behave differently in acute and chronic wounds
Appreciate the complex nature of a biofilm
Appreciate the different types of antimicrobial agents and their mode of action
Appreciate how to assess antimicrobial efficacy
Laboratory processing of wound samples; use of culture media.
Relate and apply this knowledge to clinical practice
Suggested content:
Typical growth cycle of bacteria and fungi – phases of growth
Relating growth stages to clinical colonisation – phases in the infection process
Quorum sensing
Infection versus intoxication
Lists of the virulence factors associated with infection – capsules, enzymes proteases etc...and their
effect on the host, with clinical pictures
How to test antimicrobial activity – difference between in vitro and in vivo
Broad spectrum and narrow spectrum, antagonism and synergy
Transmission and spread of infectious agents – different routes of infection
International Wound Infection Institute Curriculum Outline – November 2009
5
Typical infection rates in acute wounds – introduce the concept of screening and surgical site
infection – HAIs, chronic wounds, interaction of micro-organisms and the host, formation of biofilms,
role of the biofilm in non healing wounds
The role of the laboratory in the diagnosis of wound infection
International Wound Infection Institute Curriculum Outline – November 2009
6
Patient assessment & wound diagnosis intermediate (AI)
Overall aim:
The aim of the module is to give the student knowledge and understanding of local, host and
environmental factors which should be considered when assessing the risk or presence of wound
infection
Learning outcomes:
On completion of the module, students will be able to:
Have the knowledge and understanding to carry out a structured assessment of the patient and
their environment
Identify systemic factors which will contribute to increased risk, demonstrating an understanding of
the complexity and interplay of the host parasite interaction
Understand the implications of the wound related factors which may increase the risk of infection
Relate the clinical signs and symptoms to the underlying pathogenicity of the organisms
Have an understanding of the infection continuum
Identify specific criteria which signal infection in difference wound types
Carry out a structured assessment using a recognised assessment tool
Suggested content:
Examples of environmental factors- where the patient is cared for and the risks associated, eg
presence of domestic pets, other individuals within that environment (hospital ward or nursing
home)
Phases of wound healing
Use of a recognised approach and recognised framework in order to make a structured assessment
Structured assessment of infection criteria using a recognised tool eg CDC, sepsis, asepsis
Examples of systemic factors – diabetes, ischemia, age incontinence, plus more complex diseases
and less common diseases of which awareness is required for onward referrals
Differential diagnosis, eg different types of ulcer
International Wound Infection Institute Curriculum Outline – November 2009
7
Definitions –elaborate on continuum, contamination, colonisation, critical colonisation (in debate)
local and systemic infection
Specific clinical signs and symptoms
Wound swabbing - when to take a wound sample, methods, types, how the results are interpreted ,
important information for the laboratory
International Wound Infection Institute Curriculum Outline – November 2009
8
Management & Evaluation intermediate (MEI)
Overall aim:
The aim of this module is to give students knowledge and understanding of how to manage a patient
with or at risk of a wound infection
Learning outcomes:
On completion of the module, students will be able to:
Identify a detailed interdisciplinary plan for patients who are at risk of or who have a wound
infection in order to plan and deliver appropriate care
Identify how environmental and systemic factors should be adjusted in order to reduce the risk or
presence of infection
Identify, execute and evaluate strategies for optimising the wound bed to prevent or manage wound
infection
Determine when to make referrals and manage care within the interdisciplinary environment
Suggested content:
Brief summary of key assessment criteria – setting management objectives, patient objectives and
wound specific objectives
Ensuring that expectations are realistic, achievable and patient focussed
Strategies to optimise the local environment –
Debridement , cleansing, appropriate use of dressings, good wound bed preparation
Coordinating and instigating the interdisciplinary management plan
Rationalise the choice of dressing – interpret microbiological reports in order to select treatment–
collate information from a variety of sources
List the different antibiotics and their uses (generics)
Understand how antimicrobials work
List antimicrobial dressings and what they do
Working outside local policies and procedures when necessary– use of local formularies
Evaluation – appreciate that wound closure may not be the only outcome..understand the
significance of % of reduction in wound surface area over time
International Wound Infection Institute Curriculum Outline – November 2009
9
Microbiology advanced (MA)
Overall aim:
The aim of this module is to give students the ability to critically appraise, analyse and apply
microbiology and epidemiology within the context of wound infection
Learning outcomes:
On completion of the module, students will be able to:
Understand and interpret microbiological techniques and results
Differentiate between different modern and traditional methods used to diagnose infection
Appraise the difference between quantitative and qualitative assessment of the microbiology of
wounds and the implications for patients
Understand /appreciate patterns of antimicrobial resistance and the application of topical/systemic
agents and local policy
Understand the interaction of the immunological and microbiological roles in the formation of
biofilms
Have knowledge of unusual presentations of wound infection
Suggested content:
Conventional microbiological techniques/methods of isolation and identification
Modern methods (eg DNA technologies)
Quantitative and qualitative processing of biopsies and swabs
Formation of a biofilm – Role of macrophages, neutrophils, gene regulation, gene expression
Antiseptics, antibiotics, disinfectants, biocides – mode of action, antimicrobial resistance and the
modes of action of antibiotics
Assessment of antimicrobial susceptibility and resistance patterns, spectrum of activity etc..
Unusual microorganisms in wound infection ; burns- Bacillus cereus, Climate change and the role of
Vibrio vulnificus; dog bites- role of Pasteurella multicida; Viruses, ectoparasites .fungi, tropical
wound infections
International Wound Infection Institute Curriculum Outline – November 2009
10
Patient assessment & wound diagnosis advanced (AA)
Overall aim:
The aim of the module is to enable the student to critically appraise, analyse and apply knowledge
and understanding of local, host and environmental factors which should be considered when
assessing the risk or presence of wound infection
Learning outcomes:
On completion of the module, students will be able to:
Critically assess and review environmental host and local factors in relation to wound infection have
the know; and understanding to carry out a structured assessment
Understand and systematically appraise systemic factors which will contribute to increased risk in
relation to the complex interplay of the host parasite interaction
Recognise, understand and interpret the implications of the wound related factors which may
increase the risk of infection
Systematically review the evidence from the assessment in order to articulate and rationalise a
structured plan
Critically appraise concepts, theories and tools relevant to wound infection, such as the infection
continuum
Identify atypical wound infection presentations
Suggested content:
Local Health trends and patterns of occurrence, multi agency liaison in order to manipulate the
environment such as housing associations
Understanding of cellular biology and biochemistry within the context of assessment – linking
observations from practice to supporting data, eg from the laboratory
Recognition of unusual signs and symptoms
Critical analysis of levels or types of evidence, and of published material
Critical discussion of tools, theoretical concepts and frameworks
Examples of complex and unusual systemic factors
Advanced diagnoses, including diagnoses of exclusion
Alternative methods of sampling
International Wound Infection Institute Curriculum Outline – November 2009
11
Management & Evaluation advanced (MEA)
Overall aim:
The aim of this module is to give students the ability to critically appraise, analyse and apply
knowledge and understanding to a patient or group of patients with or at risk of a wound infection
Learning outcomes:
On completion of the module, students will be able to:
Identify a strategic approach to patients who are at risk of or who have a wound infection in order to
plan and deliver appropriate care
Recognise the importance of working across professional boundaries in order to adjust or reduce
the risk of wound infection
Influence care at a service level in order to optimise the wound bed to prevent or manage infection
Co-ordinate and manage an inter agency approach
Set up, review and redesign services
Suggested content:
Policies, procedures, guidelines & formularies aimed at the control, prevention and management of
wound infection
Research and audit of practice to advance local practice
Importance of interdisciplinary and multi agency working, with examples
Exploring alternative service delivery models
Developing a strategic or business plan
Financial implications of disease – cost benefit analyses
Systematically reviewing the literature
Defining a clinical question
International Wound Infection Institute Curriculum Outline – November 2009
12