Based on the information provided, it cannot be determined that the alleged fungal infection was related to the v.A.C.® drape.Device labeling, available in print and online, states: warning: never leave a v.A.C.® dressing in place without active v.A.C.® therapy for more than two hours.If therapy is off for more than two hours, remove the old dressing and irrigate the wound.Either apply a new v.A.C.® dressing from an unopened sterile package and restart v.A.C.® therapy; or apply an alternate dressing, such as a wet to moist gauze, as approved during times of extreme need, by treating physician.Infected wounds: infected wounds should be monitored closely and may require more frequent dressing changes than non-infected wounds, dependent upon factors such as wound conditions, treatment goals.Refer to dressing application instructions (found in v.A.C.® dressing cartons) for details regarding dressing change frequency.As with any wound treatment, clinicians and patients/caregivers should frequently monitor the patient's wound, periwound tissue and exudate for signs of infection, worsening infection, or other complications.Some signs of infection are fever, tenderness, redness, swelling, itching, rash, increased warmth in the wound or periwound area, purulent discharge or strong odor.Infection can be serious, and can lead to complications such as pain, discomfort, fever, gangrene, toxic shock, septic shock and/or fatal injury.Some signs or complications of systemic infection are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, dizziness, fainting, sore throat with swelling of the mucus membranes, disorientation, high fever, refractory and/or orthostatic hypotension or erythroderma (a sunburn-like rash).If there are any signs of the onset of systemic infection or advancing infection at the wound site, contact the treating physician immediately to determine if v.A.C.® therapy should be discontinued.Wound infection: call your doctor or nurse right away if you think your wound is infected or if the following symptoms develop or worsen: you have a fever, your wound is sore, red or swollen, your skin itches or you have a rash or redness around the wound, the area around the wound feels very warm -you have pus or a bad smell coming from the wound.Precautions: protect periwound skin: consider use of a skin preparation product to protect periwound skin.Do not allow foam to overlap onto intact skin.Protect fragile / friable periwound skin with additional v.A.C.® drape, hydrocolloid or other transparent film.Multiple layers of v.A.C.® drape may decrease the moisture vapor transmission rate, which may increase the risk of maceration.If any signs of irritation or sensitivity to the drape, foam, or tubing assembly appear, discontinue use and consult a physician.To avoid trauma to the periwound skin, do not pull or stretch the drape over the foam dressing during drape application.Extra caution should be used for patients with neuropathic etiologies or circulatory compromise.Precautions the v.A.C.® therapy system will not be effective in addressing complications associated with the following: ischemia to the incision or incision area, untreated or inadequately treated infection, inadequate hemostasis of the incision, cellulitis of the incision area.Dressing changes: wounds being treated with the v.A.C.® therapy system should be monitored on a regular basis.In a monitored, non-infected wound, v.A.C.® dressings should be changed every 48-72 hours, but no less than 3 times a week, with frequency adjusted by the clinician as appropriate.Infected wounds must be monitored often and very closely.For these wounds, dressings may need to be changed more often than 48-72 hours; the dressing changing intervals should be based on a continuing evaluation of the wound condition and the patient's clinical presentation, rather than a fixed schedule.Disclaimer: this information is submitted pursuant to 21 cfr 803, in compliance with the medical device reporting requirement and should not be considered to be an admission that a kinetic concepts, inc.Product malfunctioned, is defective or has caused serious injury.
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On 19-may-2023, the following information was provided to kci by the nurse: on (b)(6)2023, the activ.A.C.¿ ion progress¿ remote therapy monitoring system was placed on hold allegedly due to increased drainage, erythema, and a fungal infection to the periwound.An alternate treatment was ordered and nystatin powder was applied to the periwound.Reported inprovement after applying nystatin powder.On 30-may-2023, the following information was provided by the nurse: v.A.C.® therapy was resumed on (b)(6)2023.On 13-jun-2023, the following information was provided to kci by the nurse: on (b)(6)2023, a fungal rash to the periwound and back of the patient's right thigh was first noted.The v.A.C.® dressing was being bridged to the back of the patient's thigh.The v.A.C.® dressing type and lot number was not provided, and the product was not returned; therefore, a device evaluation and a device history record review could not be performed.
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