Wound exudate types
Summary: This practical guide reviews common wound exudate types—serous, sanguineous, serosanguineous, seropurulent, and purulent—and explains what their characteristics can reveal about healing status, bioburden, and the need to adjust dressings or care plans.
Key Highlights:
- Serous: Clear, thin fluid commonly seen in early healing; heavy amounts may suggest elevated bioburden.
- Sanguineous: Bloody drainage indicating capillary or tissue trauma; not typical in a stable healing wound.
- Serosanguineous: Thin, watery, pink to pale red; often reflects minor capillary injury (e.g., with dressing changes).
- Seropurulent: Thin, cloudy yellow-tan fluid—can signal increasing inflammation or contamination.
- Purulent: Thick, opaque yellow/green/brown drainage that is never normal and may indicate infection.
- Clinical use: Track type, volume, color, and odor over time to guide dressing selection/frequency and trigger further assessment when patterns worsen.
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Keywords:
Nancy Morgan, RN, BSN, MBA, WOCN, WCC, CWCMS, DWC,
exudate types,
serous exudate,
sanguineous exudate,
serosanguineous exudate,
seropurulent exudate,
purulent exudate,
wound monitoring