Feeding the wound: nutrition and wound care.

The nutritional health of the individual can determine the outcome of wound management. Frequent nutritional assessments must be performed in order to detect patients with malnutrition or at risk of malnutrition. Energy requirements must be calculated for those deemed to be malnourished or at risk of malnourishment. Early intervention is paramount to ensure that wound healing occurs unimpeded. The use of glutamine and arginine supplements enhances wound healing and should be increased. Nutritional care is cost-effective.