This article reviews the literature available to help manage chronic wounds in palliative patients, with a focus on the use of topical antimicrobials. The aim is to provide suitable guidance for nurses in any clinical setting. Each section looks at the literature available and provides recommendations for practice for this specific issue. Main themes generated from the article include the use of antimicrobials in infection management, how different levels of colonisation require different treatment options, and the issues of antimicrobial resistance and the use of antiseptics.
