Wound infection: description, causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment characteristics

Since childhood we learn about what a wound is. Little children knocks their knees to the bone, adults can easily get injured by sharp objects, people of military professions can get a bullet wound. Some people heal easily and simply, and others may develop a wound infection. What is this infection, what are the causes and its symptoms, how is the diagnosis performed and what is the peculiarity of the treatment, we will consider further.

Description of wound infection

First of all, a few words about what a wound is. This is a violation of the integrity of the skin of the body as a result of external violence. Wounds can be:

• Superficial.
• Deep.
• Penetrating.

If accidentally appeared on the body of a wound of any origin, other than those obtained as a result of surgical intervention, it is already primarily contaminated with microbes. Operative wounds are considered aseptic because they are applied to the body with sterile instruments, under sterile conditions. If the rules of asepsis and antiseptics are not observed , or a sterile bandage has not been applied to the wound in time, it is possible to introduce a secondary infection.

The fact that the accidental wound is infected with microbes is affected by several factors:

• Conditions in which a wound is obtained.
• The nature of the instrument with which it is applied.

Wound infection is the result of the development of pathogenic microflora in the wound cavity, that is, the wound process becomes complicated. In case of accidental injuries, infection occurs as a result of primary contamination, this is facilitated by untimely application of a sterile dressing or incorrect wound treatment. As for surgical wounds, infection here is usually secondary, due to the weakened state of the patient's body, or nosocomial infection.

Pathogens of wound infection

The most common causative agent of infection is staphylococcus aureus.

Much rarer are:

• Proteus.
• Intestinal bacillus.
• Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
• Tetanus.
• Gangrene.

Types of wound infection

Depending on what microbes get into the wound and how the process develops, the wound infection is of the following types:

• Purulent wound infection. Its causative agents are staphylococci, E. coli, streptococci and many others. Microbes of this kind are in the air, in pus, on objects. If ingested and if there is a favorable environment, an acute purulent disease can develop. Infection of the wound surface with such bacteria will not only lead to suppuration, but will also promote the spread of infection further.
• Anaerobic wound infection. Pathogens are tetanus microbes, gangrene, malignant edema, bacilli. The location of such pathogens is, above all, the land, especially fertilized with manure. Therefore, soil particles in the wound are the most dangerous, since the development of anaerobic infection is possible.
• Specific infection. The causative agents are Leffer's rod and hemolytic streptococcus. Such infection can be brought with mucus, saliva, air, from tissues that come into contact with the wound, during conversation, by airborne droplets.
• Endogenous infection. Microbes that are in the body of the patient can get into the wound during surgery or after it. Infection spreads through the blood vessels. Surgical wound infections can be prevented. It is necessary to properly treat the skin with antiseptic solutions, as well as the hands and the instrument before surgery.

Classification of wound infection

In addition to the causative agent that provoked wound infection, several other forms are also isolated. The wound infection can be of general form and local. The first is the heaviest. Sepsis develops, it can be as with metastases, and without. The danger of death is very high. And the local forms include:

• Infection of the wound. There is a clear boundary between the living and damaged tissue. The reason is low resistance to infections.
• Abscess is near-globe. Has a capsule that is connected to the wound and is separated from healthy tissues.
• Phlegmon. The infection goes beyond the wound and has properties to spread.
• The purulent is gone. Develops as a consequence of poor drainage. Pus is collected and spread in tissues.
• Fistula. The surface of the wound is already tightened, and inside there was an infectious focus.
• Thrombophlebitis. The infection spreads to the thrombus, as the complication then passes to the veins.
• Lymphangitis and lymphadenitis. Consequences of wound complications. For treatment, the main focus of infection is to be sanitized.

It is worth knowing: that an infection appeared and could develop, a favorable environment and many other factors are necessary. Let's talk about this later.

Causes of wound infection

There are several factors that can contribute to the development of the infectious process in the wound:

• Violation and non-compliance with the rules of aseptic wound treatment.
• Non-sterile dressings.
• Absence of outflow from the wound.
• A feature of surgical intervention on the hollow organs, for example, the large intestine.
• Presence of chronic infections in the body (tonsillitis, pyelonephritis, sick teeth).
• The degree of contamination of the wound.
• The amount of damaged tissue.
• Immune status of the body.
• The presence of foreign bodies in the wound, blood clots, necrotic tissues.
• Greater depth of damage.
• Poor blood supply to damaged tissues.
• The presence of diseases such as diabetes mellitus, cirrhosis, leukemia, obesity, malignant formations.

Infection wound begins to activate in the event that the number of microbes in the wound begins to exceed the critical level - this is 100 thousand microorganisms per 1 mm of tissue. This is an indicator for a healthy person, but if a person is sick, then the critical level can be much lower.

What are the symptoms of wound infection?

How to recognize that a wound infection takes place? Here are a few symptoms of its manifestation:

• Raise body temperature.
• Redness of the skin around the wound.
• When palpation around the wound, there is a feeling of pain.
• Edema.
• Presence of discharge from the wound.
• Feeling of bursting pain, ripple in the wound.
• Purulent formations.
• Unpleasant smell.
• The wounds heal very slowly.
• Pale granulations in the wound that bleed.
• General intoxication of the body, loss of appetite.

The presence of such signs and symptoms always indicates that anaerobic wound infection is present. She can grow up on the 3rd-7th day after getting a wound. In order to assign effective treatment, it is necessary to carry out a diagnosis.

Diagnosis of wound infection

Of course, even visually visible in appearance, secretions, odor, that wound infection progresses. But in order to prescribe effective treatment, it is necessary to establish which bacteria caused the infectious process. To do this, take a swab from the wound. In this case, you must adhere to several rules:

• The material must be taken from the deep sections of the wound in sufficient quantity.
• It is taken before antibiotics start to be used.
• In the laboratory, the material must be delivered within 2 hours.

After carrying out of researches and revealing of bacteria prescribe treatment. About this further.

How is wound infection treated?

It is very important not to leave wound infections without therapy. Treatment of such pathologies consists in surgical intervention and in the appointment of effective antimicrobial agents. It is also possible to prescribe pain medication.

Surgical intervention is:

• Wide opening of an infected wound.
• Thorough washing and sanitation of the wound cavity.
• Excision of dead tissue.
• Drainage of purulent areas.

Further, regular treatment of the wound with antiseptics is required.

Antibiotics are prescribed by the doctor taking into account the specific diseases, the sensitivity to the established bacteria, their interaction with other drugs, and the effect of the medicine on the patient's body.

Use antiseptics for washing the wounds also need with extreme caution, since the solution is absorbed and with intolerance can cause complications. They should not cause pain. It is necessary to monitor the body's reaction to the prolonged use of antiseptics. In some cases, the healing process slows down.

Be careful: self-medication can aggravate your health!

For better wound healing, it is recommended to strengthen and stimulate immunity and protect the affected area from accidental damage.

Preventive actions

Prevention of wound infection is as follows:

• Increased activity of immunity, protective functions of the body.
• Use caution to avoid injury.
• Immediate treatment of the wound with an antiseptic and the imposition of a sterile dressing.
• Deep wounds, skin and mucous membrane defects should be examined by a doctor, traumatologist and surgeon.
• Wash hands before handling first aid, treat with alcohol.
• Timely treatment of chronic diseases.

Tetanus - complication of wound process

The causative agent of tetanus is an anaerobic sporebearing rod. It easily penetrates through any cutaneous damage and damaged mucous membrane. The danger is that it affects the nervous system.

In our country it is supposed to do preventive vaccinations against tetanus. Even if the patient has suffered this disease, immunity to it is not produced - vaccination is periodically necessary.

To prevent tetanus, patients with large tissue damage are injected with tetanus immunoglobulin or serum.

Preventive tetanus vaccination provides a guarantee that if a person's skin is damaged, a person does not get tetanus.

Take care of yourself, strengthen immunity and do not get injured. And a wound infection will never disturb you.