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What should I do if my wound is infected?If you think a cut from an operation (a surgical wound) is infected, you should see the nurse or doctor at your surgery as soon as possible. They may take a sample of any discharge from an infected cut with a stick which looks like a large cotton bud, called a swab. This can be sent to the laboratory to find out which germs are causing the infection.
Your nurse or doctor will help keep your wound clean, and prescribe treatment if needed (see below.)If you have a laceration, cut or graze, watch it carefully. If a very small injury has become just a little bit red, you may be able to prevent further infection. Keep it clean by bathing it with warm water and clean cotton wool.
Try an antiseptic cream, such as Savlon®. If the redness is spreading or the wound starts to ooze pus then see your doctor or nurse.
They may be cuts, lacerations or grazes. In certain types of wounds, developing an infection is more likely. You can prevent wound infections. An infected wound may turn white due to the natural immune response of your body. In case of an infection, the wound may become white, the area around it may turn hot and red.You may even see white pus oozing from underneath as well as a bad smell.Mostly, the open wound seems white due to the presence of pus. A wound which only has a minor infection may be combated adequately by the body's.
If it is a larger wound and seems to be developing infection then see your doctor or nurse straightaway. Why do wounds become infected?Wounds heal best when they are clean and free from germs. Normally, many germs live harmlessly on our skin and in the environment around us. Normally the germs live on our skin, or in areas such as our nose, without causing any problems.If the skin is broken, however, and they spread into the more sensitive tissues underneath, they start to cause an infection. This makes the tissues sore and swollen, and less likely to heal. Open wounds are more likely than closed wounds to develop infections. This is because the break in the skin provides a route for the germs to travel from the outside to the inside.
Normally the skin acts as a barrier.Some circumstances make it more likely that wounds will become infected. These include:. If you have or. If the object which caused the wound was dirty and contained germs.
If the wound was caused by a or animal bite. If the wound still contains a 'foreign body', ie bits of whatever caused the injury. For example, bits of glass, splinters of wood, thorns, etc.
The size and depth of the wound. Larger or deeper wounds have a higher chance of becoming infected. Jagged edges to the wound. If proper precautions were not taken before an operation. If you are an older person. Your skin heals less well as you get older. If you are very overweight.
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If your immune system does not work as well as normal. For example, if you are on medication such as or or if you have. What are the complications of an infected wound?If a wound infection is not quickly and successfully treated, it may spread. The surrounding skin may become red and swollen and sore. The infection may spread to the deeper tissues beneath the skin. As the infection spreads, it may spread through the blood right through your system, making you feel unwell in yourself.
This can give you a temperature and may develop intoOther possible complications include:. The wound may not heal properly if it is infected. Other types of skin infection,. It can turn into aVery rare complications include:. Developing a further infection with tetanus. Developing a further infection called, known as the 'flesh-eating bug'.
This is a very rare severe condition where large areas of the skin become very damaged and painful. How can I prevent wound infection? Preventing infection in surgical woundsYour team at the hospital has strict procedures to try to help avoid infections. Surgical infections are monitored by Public Health England, so that policies can be changed and improved if needed.There are a number of things you can do yourself to reduce your chances of infection.
For example:. Have a shower or bath before your operation and wash yourself with soap and water. Do not use a razor to shave the area to be operated on. This makes infection more likely. If the hair needs to be removed, your surgical team will do this with clippers. Remove all jewellery and nail polish before the operation.
Keep the wound covered and the area around it clean. You can shower from two days after most operations. If you notice the skin around the wound becoming red or painful, see your doctor or nurse as soon as possible. Preventing infection in wounds from injuriesTips to avoid infection of traumatic wounds:. Clean the wound and skin around it as soon as it happens. Use cool boiled water, or drinking-quality water.
Hard reset redux xbox one. If you think there are still bits of foreign bodies in the wound, see your surgery nurse or go to your nearest Minor Injuries Unit or A&E to have it professionally cleaned out. If it is a very deep wound, or the edges are very far apart, or you cannot stop the bleeding, go to your nearest Minor Injuries Unit or A&E in case it needs stitches. Use an antiseptic around the wound area to help keep the germs away. Put a clean dressing over your wound to protect it from germs. Do not use gauze or a type of dressing which will stick to the wound.
Your pharmacist should be able to advise you if the wound is too big for an ordinary plaster. are very likely to become infected - seek medical advice at the earliest signs of this. If the injury is large, or there are multiple bite wounds, it may be worth having antibiotics 'in case'. Seek advice straightaway in this case, rather than waiting for signs of infection to develop.
Keep a close eye on the wound and seek medical advice if you think infection is developing. Arrange for a tetanus vaccination if needed.
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American Academy of Family Physicians. National Institutes of Health. 2009.' Tetanus Vaccine.'
University of Michigan. 2009.' Wound (Skin) Infection.'
University of Michigan. 2009.Porter, Sandy J.
Vincent's Indianapolis Hospital.
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