Which factors contribute to pressure injury development?

Which factors contribute to pressure injury development?

• A. External pressure, friction and shear, microclimate
• B. Only external pressure
• C. Friction only
• D. Temperature fluctuations only

Answer: (A)

Tissue injury from pressure happens when sustained external pressure reduces capillary blood flow, leading to tissue ischemia. But risk is higher because friction and shear during movement can widen tissue cracks and distort the skin and underlying structures, making damage easier and faster under the same amount of pressure. Microclimate around the skin—moisture, heat, and humidity—affects skin integrity as well. Moisture from sweating or incontinence can macerate the skin, lowering its resistance to breakdown, and higher temperatures can increase tissue metabolism and susceptibility to injury. When these factors act together—pressure compressing tissues, friction and shear causing mechanical stress, and an adverse microclimate compromising skin resilience—the likelihood and depth of a pressure injury increase. The other options omit essential contributors like shear and microclimate, so they don’t fully explain why pressure injuries occur.

Tissue injury from pressure happens when sustained external pressure reduces capillary blood flow, leading to tissue ischemia. But risk is higher because friction and shear during movement can widen tissue cracks and distort the skin and underlying structures, making damage easier and faster under the same amount of pressure. Microclimate around the skin—moisture, heat, and humidity—affects skin integrity as well. Moisture from sweating or incontinence can macerate the skin, lowering its resistance to breakdown, and higher temperatures can increase tissue metabolism and susceptibility to injury. When these factors act together—pressure compressing tissues, friction and shear causing mechanical stress, and an adverse microclimate compromising skin resilience—the likelihood and depth of a pressure injury increase. The other options omit essential contributors like shear and microclimate, so they don’t fully explain why pressure injuries occur.