Surgical wound infections have evolved into a major source of illness after a surgical procedure. According to Ronald Lee Nichols, Tulane University School of Medicine, wound site infections account for approximately 25 percent of hospital acquired infections. Identification of patients who are at higher risks of infections has become increasingly important and has helped to reduce these numbers. Recognition of the signs and symptoms of infection can help to provide earlier treatment and fewer complications. There are several signs and symptoms of post surgery incision infections of which we should all be aware.
Localized Redness
Incisions displaying minimal skin redness, or erythema, are not necessarily infected. The body's normal inflammatory reaction, whereby the body releases a chemical known as histamine, can cause the surrounding tissue to become slightly reddened. When redness becomes extreme and very localized in size and location, infection can be suspected.
Heat
Under normal circumstances, post surgery incisions exhibit some, but not extreme, amounts of heat, again generated by the normal inflammatory response of the body. Increases in metabolism of the tissue can contribute to the increased heat. As local tissue metabolism increases as a response to the infection-fighting process, heat is generated. Excessive heat, together with increased redness denotes more than a normal tissue response to surgery.
Increased Pain and Tenderness
Because of increased tissue irritation from inflammation, pain at the incision site can be greater than normal. The incision can be hard and extremely tender to touch. Mild tenderness is an expected consequence of having an incision. Pain from an infected incision can be severe.
Drainage
Similar to microorganisms that colonize inside a joint or other tissue/organ, those that have infiltrated an incision can produce a thick liquid material, called exudate, and have a green, yellow, brown and rarely, even blue appearance depending on the specific offending organism . The common description of this exudate is known as pus. While the presence of pus is actually a natural by-product of the body’s battle against infection, when it accumulates in a joint or other tissue space, it can be very destructive. Pockets of pus are called abscesses and can be potentially difficult to treat depending on the locations, which can be in soft tissue such as fat and muscle, or in organs themselves such as a kidney or liver.
