Ever since childhood, we learn about what a wound is. Little children knock their knees to the blood, adults can easily get hurt by sharp objects, people of military professions can get a bullet wound. In some, everything heals easily and simply, while in others, a wound infection may begin to develop. What kind of infection is this, what are the causes and its symptoms, how is the diagnosis carried out 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:
- Shallow.
- Deep.
- Penetrating.
If a wound of any origin, except for those obtained as a result of surgical intervention, accidentally appeared on the body, it is already initially contaminated with microbes. Surgical 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 was not applied to the wound in a timely manner, it is possible to enter a secondaryinfections.
Several factors influence how germ-infested an accidental wound is:
- The conditions in which the wound was received.
- The nature of the weapon with which it was applied.
Wound infection is the result of the development of pathogenic microflora in the wound cavity, that is, there is a complication of the wound process. In accidental wounds, infection occurs as a result of primary contamination, this is facilitated by the untimely application of a sterile dressing or improper wound treatment. As for surgical wounds, infection here is usually secondary, due to the weakened state of the patient's body, or nosocomial infection.
Wound infection pathogens
The most common wound infection pathogen is staphylococcus aureus.
Much less common:
- Proteus.
- E. coli.
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
- Tetanus.
- Gangrene.
Types of wound infection
Depending on which microbes enter the wound and how the process develops, wound infection can be of the following types:
- Purulent wound infection. Its causative agents are staphylococci, Escherichia coli, streptococci and many others. Microbes of this kind are in the air, in pus, on objects. If it enters the body and if there is a favorable environment there, an acute purulent disease can develop. Infection of the wound surface with such bacteria will lead not only to suppuration, but will also contribute tospreading the infection further.
- Anaerobic wound infection. The causative agents are microbes of tetanus, gangrene, malignant edema, bacilli. The location of such pathogens is, first of 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 stick and hemolytic streptococcus. Such an infection can be introduced with mucus, saliva, from the air, from tissues in contact with the wound, when talking, by airborne droplets.
- Endogenous infection. Microbes that are in the patient's body itself can get into the wound during or after surgery. The infection spreads through the blood vessels. Surgical wound infections are preventable. It is necessary to properly treat the skin with antiseptic solutions, as well as hands and tools before surgery.
Classification of wound infection
In addition to what pathogen provoked a wound infection, there are also several of its forms. Wound infection can be of a general form and local. The first is the most difficult. Sepsis develops, it can be with or without metastases. The danger of death is very high. And local forms include:
- Wound infection. There is a clear boundary between living and damaged tissue. The reason is low resistance to infections.
- Abscess near the wound. Has a capsule that is connected to the wound and separated from he althy onesfabrics.
- Phlegmon. The infection extends beyond the wound and has the ability to spread.
- Purulent flow. It develops as a result of poor drainage. Pus collects and spreads in tissues.
- Fistulas. The surface of the wound has already been closed, and an infectious focus remains inside.
- Thrombophlebitis. The infection spreads to the thrombus, as a complication further passes to the veins.
- Lymphangitis and lymphadenitis. Consequences of wound complications. Treatment requires sanitation of the main focus of infection.
Worth knowing: in order for an infection to appear and be able to develop, a favorable environment and many other factors are needed. We'll talk about this later.
Causes of wound infection
There are several factors that can contribute to the development of an infectious process in a wound:
- Violation and non-compliance with the norms of aseptic wound treatment.
- Non-sterile dressing.
- No outflow from the wound.
- Feature of surgery on hollow organs, such as the large intestine.
- The presence of chronic infections in the body (tonsillitis, pyelonephritis, bad teeth).
- Degree of contamination of the wound.
- Number of damaged tissues.
- Immune status of the body.
- Presence of foreign bodies in the wound, blood clots, necrotic tissues.
- Great damage depth.
- Poor blood supply to damaged tissues.
- The presence of diseases such as diabetes, cirrhosis, leukemia, obesity,malignant tumors.
Wound infection begins to activate if the number of microbes in the wound begins to exceed a critical level - this is 100 thousand microorganisms per 1 mm of tissue. This is an indicator for a he althy person, but if a person is sick, then the critical level can be much lower.
What are the symptoms of a wound infection?
How to recognize that there is a wound infection? Here are a few of its symptoms:
- Increased 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, throbbing in the wound.
- Purulent formations.
- Bad smell.
- Wounds heal very slowly.
- Pale granulations in the wound that bleed.
- General intoxication of the body, loss of appetite.
The presence of these signs and symptoms always suggests an anaerobic wound infection. It can develop 3-7 days after the wound is received. In order to prescribe an effective treatment, it is necessary to conduct a diagnosis.
Wound infection diagnosis
Of course, even visually visible in appearance, discharge, smell, that the wound infection is progressing. But in order to prescribe an effective treatment, it is necessary to establish which bacteria caused the infectious process. To do this, you need to take a swab from the wound. At the same time, one must adhere tomultiple rules:
- Material must be taken from deep areas of the wound in sufficient quantities.
- It is taken before antibiotics are started.
- The material must be delivered to the laboratory within 2 hours.
After conducting research and identifying bacteria, treatment is prescribed. More on that later.
How wound infection is treated
It is very important not to leave wound infections untreated. The treatment of such pathologies consists in surgical intervention and in the appointment of effective antimicrobial drugs. It is also possible to prescribe painkillers.
Surgery is:
- Wide opening of an infected wound.
- Thorough washing and debridement of the wound cavity.
- Excision of dead tissue.
- Drainage of purulent areas.
Next, regular wound treatment with antiseptics is required.
Antibiotics are prescribed by a doctor, taking into account the specifics of diseases, sensitivity to established bacteria, their interaction with other drugs, and the effect of the drug on the patient's body.
It is also necessary to use antiseptics for washing wounds with extreme caution, since the solution is absorbed and, if intolerant, can cause complications. They shouldn't cause pain. It is necessary to monitor the body's reaction to prolonged use of antiseptics. In some cases, the healing process slows down.
Be careful: self-medication can aggravatethe state of your he alth!
For better wound healing, it is recommended to strengthen and stimulate the immune system and protect the affected area from accidental damage.
Prevention measures
Wound infection prevention is as follows:
- Increasing the activity of immunity, the protective functions of the body.
- Be careful to avoid injury.
- Immediate treatment of the wound with an antiseptic and the application of a sterile dressing.
- Deep wounds, defects of the skin and mucous membranes should be examined by a doctor, traumatologist and surgeon.
- Wash hands with alcohol before rendering first aid.
- Timely treatment of chronic diseases.
Tetanus is a complication of the wound process
The causative agent of tetanus is an anaerobic spore-bearing bacillus. It easily penetrates through any skin lesions and damaged mucous membranes. The danger lies in the fact that it affects the nervous system.
In our country it is necessary to do prophylactic vaccinations against tetanus. Even if the patient has had this disease, immunity to it is not developed - vaccination is periodically necessary.
Tetanus immunoglobulin or serum is administered to prevent tetanus in patients with extensive tissue damage.
Prophylactic tetanus vaccination ensures that if the skin is damaged, a person will not get tetanus.
Take care of yourself, strengthen your immune system and don't get hurt. And a wound infection will never bother you.
