Table of contents:
- Definition
- What is surgical wound infection?
- How common is surgical wound infection?
- Signs & symptoms
- What are the signs and symptoms of surgical wound infection?
- When should I see a doctor?
- Cause
- What causes surgical wound infection?
- Risk factors
- What increases my risk for surgical wound infection?
- Medicines & Medicines
- What are my treatment options for surgical wound infection?
- What are the usual tests for surgical wound infection?
- Home remedies
- What are some lifestyle changes or home remedies that can be done to treat a surgical wound infection?
Definition
What is surgical wound infection?
Surgical wound infection is a condition classified as superficial incision infection, deep incision infection, or organ / space infection. Surgical site infections (SSIs) account for approximately 17% of hospitalized infections. Most cases of this infection occur within 2 weeks after surgery, although deep incision and organ / space infections can occur after a long time.
Symptoms of surgical wound infection, causes of surgical wound infection, and surgical wound infection medication, will be further explained below.
How common is surgical wound infection?
Surgical wound infection occurs in 2-3% of all people who have had surgery. You can minimize the chances of having this infection by reducing your risk factors. Please discuss with your doctor for more information.
Signs & symptoms
What are the signs and symptoms of surgical wound infection?
Symptoms depend on the type of SSI. They include:
- Pus discharge from the surgical scar
- You feel pain when you touch the wound
- Pain, swelling, redness, and warmth
There may be signs and symptoms not listed above. If you have concerns about a particular symptom, consult your doctor.
When should I see a doctor?
While you are recovering from surgery you should consult your doctor if you have any of the signs or symptoms listed above. If you are already at home, you should go to the hospital immediately, so that the doctor can treat the infection as soon as possible. Everyone's body is different. Always consult a doctor to treat your health condition. In addition, bacteria that are usually found on the skin such as staphylococci and streptococci are the most common causes of surgical wound infections.
Cause
What causes surgical wound infection?
The risk of getting this infection is related to the type and location of the operation (on which part of the body), how long it lasts, the skill of the surgeon, and how well a person's immune system can fight the infection. When surgery involves the perineum, intestines, genital system, or urinary tract, coliform and anaerobic bacteria can be associated with this infection.
Risk factors
What increases my risk for surgical wound infection?
The risk of getting this infection is related to the type and location of the surgery on the body, how long it lasts, the skill of the surgeon, and how well a person's immune system can fight the infection. Surgery involving body parts damaged by previous trauma or areas of infection that were present before the operation increases the risk. Operations that involve placing a medical frame (prosthetic hip and knee, shunts, stents, heart valves, etc.) are also at a higher risk of infection. Old age, diabetes mellitus, high sugar (glucose), obesity, malnutrition, and smoking increase the risk of infection. Low body temperature during surgery, blood loss, transfusions, and the presence of other infections in the body are additional risk factors.
Having no risk factors doesn't mean you can't get this infection. These factors are for reference only. You should consult your doctor for more details.
Medicines & Medicines
The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.
What are my treatment options for surgical wound infection?
The most important treatment for a surgical wound infection is to reopen the surgical incision to clean the infected material (dead tissue and foreign matter). The gauze used on the wound should be changed several times a day. This allows the infection to heal with follow-up action. This condition will allow the open wound to heal from the bottom up by creating new tissue. Antibiotics can be given while the wound is cleaned and for several days afterward. Treatment may be prolonged if there are signs that the infection may spread and especially if fever develops.
What are the usual tests for surgical wound infection?
The incision appearance of the surgical wound will help in diagnosis. Finding bacteria from the incision or by color marking and bacterial culture will confirm the result of the diagnosis. Other laboratory tests can also be done
Home remedies
What are some lifestyle changes or home remedies that can be done to treat a surgical wound infection?
Here are the lifestyle and home remedies that can help you deal with surgical wound infections:
- Follow your doctor's recommendations, especially on how to treat surgical scars
- Washing your hands is the best way to prevent infection
- Take prescribed antibiotics to the end
- Tell family and friends to wash their hands well with soap and water before visiting you
- Do further tests with your doctor
- Do not smoke
If you have any questions, consult your doctor for the best solution to your problem.
