Features of wound infection and its prevention
Gems causing infection may a wound at the time of the injury or may be implanted in the wound after the original injury. The source of late entry may be the nose and throat of person who breathe, talk, cough or sneeze near the victim, or the skin of careless first aides who do not wash their hands well before handling the wound. Features of infection are increasing pain and soreness, swelling, redness and feeling of heat around the wound, swelling and tenderness of the glands in the area of drainage, and constitutional features like fever, shivering, sweating, thirst, and lethargy. Untreated infection may spread through the body. Tetanus may occur if the victim is not immunized.
Infection is prevented by the following means.
- Wash the wound and the skin surrounding it with a lot of clean water and an antiseptic solution.
- Do not breathe, talk, cough or sneeze near the wound. Cover your mouth and nose with a mask.
- Do not touch the surface of the dressing which will be placed over the wound.
- Dress the wound as quickly as possible with a sterile or clean dressing.
- Advise the victim to take tetanus toxoid.
