Prevent And Manage Infected Wounds

In daily life, people are prone to encounters such as cuts and abrasions. Although the wound is small, it can lead to serious infection if not handled properly.

The case of a housewife who accidentally slipped her hand while preparing dinner and cut her index finger.

The incision was deep and bleeding constantly. She put her hand under the faucet to rinse the wound with tap water, wiped it dry, and put a band-aid on it. Before going to bed at night, in order to allow the wound to breathe better, she removed the bandage. When she woke up the next day, the housewife felt a dull throbbing pain in her fingers. After examination, she found that the wound was red, swollen and inflamed, and there was some yellow pus. This phenomenon is very different from her previous symptoms after injury. Because of the constant pain, she decided to go to the hospital to check the wound.

The wound is located on the first knuckle of the index finger, and it is difficult to bend due to swelling of the finger. A small amount of secretions can be seen on the wound surface, and the skin around the wound is red and hot. The initial diagnosis of the wound shows signs of local infection.

A wound infection is a localized blemish or depression in the skin and subcutaneous soft tissue. When pathogenic bacteria invade the tissue surrounding the wound, the body mounts an immune response, causing inflammation and tissue damage.

Usually, the wound heals on its own within a day or two. Human sebaceous glands can secrete an acidic film, which can protect the epidermis, provide us with a dynamic barrier, regulate the pH of the skin, maintain the normal flora of the skin, and prevent pathogens from entering the human body.

Sometimes pathogens attack and replace normal flora, colonizing certain locations. Most of the time, however, this does not lead to infection or trigger an immune response. However, if the skin is damaged, it is vulnerable to pathogen attack and contamination. If left untreated, it can lead to serious infection and even amputation.

Stages of wound infection

· Contamination — Wound contamination refers to the presence of non-proliferative microorganisms within the wound at levels not sufficient to cause a host response.

· Colonization - failure of microbial growth to reach critical levels that do not affect or delay wound healing. Microbial sources may be natural flora, exogenous sources, or the result of environmental exposure.

· Local infection - bacteria or other microorganisms penetrate deep into the wound tissue and proliferate fast enough to elicit a host response, but remain contained in a location, system, or structure.

· Diffuse infection - the surrounding tissue is invaded by infectious microorganisms from the wound. Microorganisms proliferate and spread, manifesting signs and symptoms that extend beyond the boundaries of the wound to some extent and may affect deep tissues, muscles, fascia, organs, or body cavities.

·Systemic infection - Microorganisms spread throughout the body through the blood vessels or lymphatic system. Infections originating from wounds affect the entire body. It can further lead to sepsis and organ dysfunction, both hallmarks of systemic infection.

Case Suggest:

Wash the wound with normal saline to remove foreign bodies and secretions from the wound, then cover the wound with a antibacterial advanced wound dressing and bandage it to promote natural healing of the wound, and keep the wound clean and change the dressings every day. At the same time, avoid eating spicy and cold food, and have a follow-up examination after about three days.

For some relatively clean wounds with mild infection symptoms, there is generally no need to use drugs. The wounds can be washed with normal saline and covered with antibacterial dressings. The wound was flushed with saline and filled with a new drainage strip.

More Suggestions:

7 hallmarks of wound infection: pain, redness, swelling, increased exudation, change in color of the exudate, an unpleasant odor from the wound, and elevated wound temperature. If you find that the wound has 3 of these 7 characteristics, it is very likely that the wound is infected and you need to seek medical attention in time.