Recognizing and Treating Infected Wounds: Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention

2. Treatment

More severe wound infections require immediate medical attention, especially those accompanied by other symptoms such as fever, feeling unwell, or discharge and red streaks from the wound.

Doctors usually treat wounds infected with bacteria with antibiotics. Drugs must be spent according to doctor’s instructions to prevent bacteria from becoming resistant to the drug.

In addition to cleaning, some wounds may require further treatment. If the wound is large or deep, the doctor may have to use stitches to close it. Smaller wounds can often be covered with medical glue or tape.

If the wound contains dead or dirty tissue, the doctor may remove the tissue through a procedure called debridement. Debridement should promote healing and prevent the spread of infection.

Animal bites or wounds from dirty or rusty objects may be at risk of tetanus and require a tetanus shot.

Tetanus is a potentially fatal condition that occurs when certain bacteria enter the body and release toxins that affect the nerves. Symptoms of tetanus can include painful muscle spasms, jaw muscle stiffness and fever.

3. Risk factors

Cuts, scrapes, and other cuts on the skin can become infected when bacteria enter the wound and start to multiply. The bacteria can come from the surrounding skin, the external environment, or an object that caused the wound.

It is important to clean and protect the wound properly to reduce the risk of infection.

The risk of wound infection is higher if:

• The wound is large, deep, or has jagged edges.
• Dirt or foreign particles enter the wound.
• Wounds caused by animal or other person bites.
• Wounds involve things that are dirty, rusty, or contain germs.

Certain health conditions and environmental factors can also increase your risk of infection, such as:

• Diabetes.
• Weakened immune systems, such as in people with HIV or who are taking immunosuppressant drugs.
• Lack of mobility, for example in people who spend most of their time in bed.
• Elderly.
• Deficiency of nutrients and vitamins.

Rarely, incisions from surgical procedures can also become infected. This occurs in about 2–4 percent of people who have surgery, such as citing the page AHRQ Patient Safety Network.

4. Complications that can occur

If the infection in the wound is not treated, the infection can spread to other parts of the body which can cause serious complications. According to an article in the journal American Family Physician 2015, this may include:

• Cellulitis: The infection is in the deeper layers and tissues of the skin and can cause swelling, redness, and pain in the affected area. Other symptoms can include fever, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting.
• Osteomyelitis: Bacterial infection of the bone, and symptoms include pain, redness, and swelling around the infected area. Fatigue and fever are other symptoms that can occur.
• Sepsis: An extreme immune reaction that can sometimes occur when an infection enters the bloodstream. Sepsis can cause multiple organ failure and is life threatening.
• Necrotizing fasciitis: This rare condition occurs when a bacterial infection spreads to a tissue called the fascial layer that lies deep under the skin. Necrotizing fasciitis is a medical emergency that causes severe skin damage and pain and can spread throughout the body.

5. Prevention

Minor wound infections may be treated at home. According to reports in the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global Open in 2019, whether the wound is infected or not, you can take care of the wound at home in this way:

• Make sure all equipment to be used is clean. For example, if using tweezers, clean them with alcohol first.
• Wash hands thoroughly with soap and warm water, then rinse and dry.
• If there is active bleeding, hold a clean bandage or gauze to the wound and apply pressure until it stops.
• Clean the cut or scrape by running warm water over it for a few minutes. Use warm, soapy water to clean the skin around the wound, but don’t get the soap on the wound.
• Make sure there is no dirt or debris, such as grass or gravel, on the wound. To remove dirt, use tweezers or rub the wound carefully and gently with a soft damp cloth.
• If there is, apply a thin layer of antiseptic ointment or petroleum jelly on cuts or scrapes.
  Let the skin dry before covering it with gauze or a bandage. Usually, minor cuts and scrapes don’t need bandaging.

These steps will help protect the wound from infection:

• Immediately wash the wound with running clean water for a few minutes. Then, clean the skin around the wound with warm, soapy water. If it is not possible to use clean water, treat the wound with alcohol wipes.
• Let the skin dry on its own.
• Apply an antiseptic ointment to the wound.
• Cover the wound with gauze or other appropriate dressing.

Other tips:

• Change the wound dressing at least once a day. Replace immediately if damp or dirty.
• Wash the wound gently every day.
• Avoid using hydrogen peroxide or iodine on wounds as they can cause skin irritation in some people. Stop using the antiseptic ointment if it causes skin irritation.
• Don’t pick at the skin or scab, as this can cause scarring, slow healing, and increase the risk of infection.
• See a doctor if the wound doesn’t improve within 1–2 days.