Qualified Medication Aides (QMA) Practice Exam

What are debridement medications primarily used for?

1. To moisturize the skin

2. To remove dead tissue

3. To reduce inflammation

4. To relieve pain

The correct answer is: To remove dead tissue

Debridement medications are specifically designed to facilitate the removal of dead, damaged, or necrotic tissue from a wound. This process is crucial for promoting healing, as dead tissue can impede the recovery process and increase the risk of infection. By clearing away this debris, debridement medications help to create a clean wound bed, which can then effectively facilitate new, healthy tissue formation. While moisturizing the skin, reducing inflammation, and relieving pain are important aspects of overall wound care and management, these functions are not the primary role of debridement medications. The main focus remains on the removal of non-viable tissue to improve the wound environment and support the body’s natural healing processes.