Wound infection is such a common condition and presents so often that every wound care professional will recognize the major signs and symptoms almost instantly. However, the consequences of diagnosing wound infection late, or missing the signs of wound infection completely, are such that it is worth spending a few moments every now and again to remind ourselves of all the signs of wound infection.
As we are taught during training, the principal signs of wound infection are rubor, calor, tumor, functio laesa, drainage, and a decline in wound status. Rubor in an infected wound describes a poorly defined erythemal border with a disproportionate amount of erythema, while calor describes a magnified localized increase in temperature with warmth extending further away from the site and a possible systemic increase in body temperature … read more
