Objective To determine the frequency of hand dermatitis among nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic and factors affecting its prevalence.

Methods The research sample consisted of 175 nurses working in state hospitals. Research data were collected via Google Survey between October and September 2020. The data were collected using a Sociodemographic Data Collection Form, and a self-assessment form was used to determine dermatologic symptoms.

Results The frequency of hand dermatitis among nurses was 70.9%. A statistically significant difference was found between sex, allergy history, and increased frequency of handwashing and the frequency of hand dermatitis. No significant difference in terms of the frequency of hand dermatitis was found between the nurses who provided care to patients who were COVID-19 positive versus the nurses who did not provide care to patients who were COVID-19 negative. However, the frequency of washing hands and using hand disinfectants and hand creams was found to have increased significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the prepandemic period.

Conclusions The frequency of hand dermatitis increased among nurses during the pandemic. The increased frequency of handwashing during the pandemic poses a risk for hand dermatitis among nurses, although this should not discourage nurses from appropriate hygiene.

The continued risk of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is becoming a global crisis and action to reduce and educate all health care professionals, patients and carers is essential. Reduction in AMR is the responsibility of everyone, and it is appropriate to develop and embed the role of antimicrobial stewardship guardians into care environments. A key professional group in the fight against AMR and implementation of antimicrobial stewardship is the pharmacist. This paper explores their unique role in antimicrobial stewardship.

Hydrocolloid protective sheets provide a moist favourable environment for wound healing and act as a barrier against exogenous bacteria. They do not adhere to the wound, only to the surrounding skin, and can provide more a more rapid wound healing environment, keeping newly healed skin intact and preventing breakdown of tissue. Hydrocolloid protective sheets do not traumatise the skin upon removal, reducing pain, and require fewer dressing changes as they may be left in place for several days at a time. They come in different sizes which can be custom-cut to fit the wound. Their use can also reduce the cost of care, length of stay in hospital and amount of care rendered by WOC nurses. The three case studies in this article describe how stomal therapy nurses approached the nursing management of denuded skin using hydrocolloid protective sheets on peristomal skin, the buttocks and perineal regions.