Cornstarch and incontinence care

[CabanaDay]

For adult patients incontinent of urine and feces who may go eight hours (or more overnight) without changing, is powder containing cornstarch less than ideal?

I ask in HH because I hope patients in hospitals and LTC aren't going eight hours without incontinece care.

I seem to recall the general rule that cornstarch based powders are contraindicated in the presence of fecal incontinece. In addition, for this client, the smell of yeast is very strong during that first diaper change of the day.

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

Corn starch will cake up and most likely cause an infection. Try to get your HH patients to buy 8 HR briefs. They are more costly than regular ones, but they are very absorbent and keep the urine away from the skin.

[RachRN66]

I would also recommend barrier cream applied librally and thickly to the skin before going to bed at night and then cleaning as soon as possible in the AM. Using a thick barrier cream with zinc oxide is my preference...like desitin, balmex etc.

[annaedRN, RN]

switch to an antifungal powder (not cream) then can still apply barrier cream over the antifungal powder. works wonders

[CabanaDay]

Practical Management Strategies for Diaper Dermatitis provides the data I sought regarding the combination of urine, and feces which is a reservoir for Candida albicans (yeast), that discourages cornstarch based powders. In a warm, humid, and high pH evironment, feeding on cornstarch, yeast thrive.

We have chosen Baza Moisture Barrier Antifungal Cream as a one-step solution.