What are the signs of a wound infection?
If the wound begins to drain yellow or greenish fluid (pus), or if the skin around the wound becomes red, warm, swollen, or increasingly painful; a wound infection may be present and medical care should be sought. Any red streaking of the skin around the wound may indicate an infection in the system that drains fluid from the tissues, called the lymph system. This infection (lymphangitis) can be serious, especially if it is accompanied by a fever. Prompt medical care should be sought if streaking redness from a wound is noticed. How are puncture wounds different? A puncture wound is caused by an object piercing the skin, creating a small hole. Some punctures can be very deep, depending on the source and cause. Puncture wounds do not usually bleed much, however, treatment is necessary to prevent infection. A puncture wound can cause infection because it forces bacteria and debris deep into the tissue and the wound closes quickly forming an ideal place for bacteria to grow. For example,
