Wound Infection

GENERAL INFORMATION:

What is wound infection? A wound infection happens when germs enter a break in the skin. These germs, called bacteria, attach to tissues causing wounds to stop healing, and other signs and symptoms. Wounds can be punctures (holes), lacerations (tears), incisions (cuts), or burns. Deep ulcers (open sores), large burns, or bite wounds are more likely than other wounds to get infected. Wound infection can also happen in small wounds that were not treated.

What causes wound infections? When a large number of bacteria get into a wound, it can get infected. There are different types of bacteria. More than one type may infect your wound at the same time. Normal bacteria that lives on your skin often enter a wound first. A break in the skin gives them a chance to enter it and cause infection. Bacteria may also come from the environment, such as soil, air, or water. If an object such as a nail caused the wound, bacteria may come from that. If you are bit by an animal or person, their saliva (spit) can also cause infection.

What puts me at risk of having a wound infection? Anything that decreases your body's ability to heal wounds may put you at risk for a wound infection. Factors that affect wound healing may include any of the following:

• Diseases: Diseases such as diabetes (high blood sugar level), cancer, or liver, kidney or lung conditions slow down healing.
  
  
• Foreign objects: Dead tissue and foreign objects, such as glass or metal, stuck in the wound may delay wound healing.
  
  
• Poor blood supply or low oxygen: Blood flow may be decreased by high blood pressure, and blocked or narrowed blood vessels. This may be a common problem in people who smoke, or have blood vessel problems or heart conditions. Low oxygen supply may be caused by certain blood, heart, and lung diseases.
  
  
• Repeated trauma: Constant pressure on wounds may increase your risk of having wound infection, and delay healing.
  
  
• Surgery: Infection of cuts made during surgery, also called surgical site infection (SSI), may occur. Ask your caregiver for more information on SSI.
  
  
• Weak immune system: The immune system is the part of the body that fights infection. This may be weakened by radiation, poor nutrition, and certain medicines, such as anti-cancer medicines or steroids.

What are the signs and symptoms of a wound infection? You may have any of the following:

• High or low body temperature, low blood pressure, or a fast heart beat.
  
  
• Increased discharge (blood or other fluid) or pus coming out of the wound. The discharge or pus may have an odd color or a bad smell.
  
  
• Increased swelling that goes past the wound area and does not go away after five days. Swollen areas usually look red, feel painful, and feel warm when you touch them.
  
  
• Wounds that do not heal or get better with treatment.
  
  
• An old wound that bleeds easily.
  
  
• A wound that is painful, even though it does not look like it should be.

How is a wound infection diagnosed? Your caregiver will ask you abut your health. He will ask if you have any diseases, what medicine you are using, and if you have had surgery. He will also need to know when and how you were wounded. He will closely look at your wound to check for other problems. You may also have any of the following tests:

• Blood tests: You may need blood taken for tests. The blood can be taken from a blood vessel in your hand, arm, or the bend in your elbow. It is tested to see how your body is doing. It can give your caregivers more information about your health condition. You may need to have blood drawn more than once.
  
  
• Imaging tests: Pictures of your bones and tissues in the wound area may be taken using different imaging tests. Tests may include x-rays, computed tomography (CT) scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or bone scan. Caregivers use the pictures to look for broken bones, injuries, or foreign objects in the wound area.
  
  
• Wound sampling and culture: This is when fluids or a small piece of tissue is taken from your wound. This sample is then sent to the lab for tests. This helps caregivers learn what kind of infection you have and what medicine is best to treat it.

How is a wound infection treated? Treatment will depend on how severe the wound infection is, its location, and whether other areas are affected. It may also depend on the length of time you have had the infection. You may need any of the following:

• Wound care:
  
  
  • Cleansing: This may be done by rinsing the wound with sterile (clean) water. Germ-killing solutions may also be used to clean your wound.
    
    
  • Debridement: Debridement is done to clean and remove objects, dirt, or dead skin and tissues from the wound area. Caregivers may cut out the damaged areas in or around the wound. Wet bandages may be placed inside the wound and left to dry. Other wet or dry dressings may also be used. Caregivers may also drain the wound to clean out pus.
  
  
• Medicines: Your caregiver may give you antibiotic medicine to fight infection. You may also be given medicine to decrease pain, swelling, or fever.
  
  
• Other treatment: Controlling or treating the medical condition that causes poor wound healing helps treat wound infection. You will need to regularly take medicines to control diseases such as diabetes or high blood pressure. Surgery may also be done to increase blood flow if you have blood vessel problems.
  
  
• Lifestyle changes: Vitamin C, found in oranges and other foods, helps wounds heal. Your caregiver may give you supplements (pills) or suggest a special diet to help you heal. If you smoke, quit. Smoking cigarettes, pipes and other things decreases the ability of wounds to heal.

Where can I find more information about wound infections?

• American Academy of Family Physicians
  PO Box 11210
  Shawnee Mission, KS 66207-1210
  Phone: 1-913-906-6000
  Web Address: http://www.aafp.org
  

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your care. To help with this plan, you must learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. You can then discuss treatment options with your caregivers. Work with them to decide what care may be used to treat you. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Healthcare Inc. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.

The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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