Wound infection occurs more often with abdomen belly and emergency surgeries. Other risk factors for surgical wound infections include:. Your surgeon should tell you when your stitches or staples need to be removed. These are general guidelines for when they should be taken out:. Disclaimer: this health information is for educational purposes only. You, the reader, assume full responsibility for how you choose to use it. Post-Op Incision Symptoms and Questions.
Your doctor can give you an idea of how much redness or swelling is normal, but if it persists for more than a week following surgery or gets worse, it could be a sign of a bacterial infection. Red streaks radiating out from the incision site is another indication that the wound could be infected.
Fever is one of the classic symptoms of both viral and bacterial infections. A sure-fire sign of infection, any yellow, white, or green-colored discharge seeping from the wound that smells bad needs to be examined as quickly as possible. Also known as purulent drainage , this pus is distinct from ordinary drainage, which is typically clear or slightly yellow and usually clears up after a few days.
Pus is a mixture of various forms of dead matter, including white blood cells, tissue, bacteria, or even fungus. Some level of pain is to be expected following any surgical procedure, but it should always be trending downward over time.
Increased pain can result from renewed physical activity or from scaling back on pain medication , but these are easily identified causes. If the wound continues to hurt for no apparent reason or the pain level increases significantly over time, an infection is the most likely culprit. By reporting pain levels accurately to your physician throughout the recovery process, potential infections can be identified and treated before they can get any worse.
All of the energy used to fight off the infection generates heat, which increases the temperature of the surrounding skin. Like swelling and redness, some level of heat is normal immediately following surgery. If your infection is small or localized, your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic cream to apply to the site. If the infection is more serious or affects a larger area, your doctor can prescribe an oral antibiotic.
A very severe infection may require intravenous IV antibiotics or surgical removal of any dead or dying tissue. You should avoid getting your stitches wet for at least 24 hours. Ask your doctor when you can get them wet, such as in the shower. If your doctor has placed a bandage or dressing on your stitches, be sure to follow their instructions about when to remove it. Use soap and warm water to gently clean the stitches, patting dry with a clean towel.
If you must touch your stitches, make sure that your hands are clean beforehand. You naturally have bacteria living on your skin and under your fingernails. Itching, scratching, or picking at your stitches can lead to infection. Exercise and contact sports can place strain on your stitches, causing them to tear. Ask your doctor when you can return to your normal physical activities.
Most cases of infected stitches can be successfully treated with a topical or oral antibiotic with no long-term effects. If you notice that your stitches have become red, swollen, more painful, or are oozing pus or blood, see your doctor.
If left untreated, a case of infected stitches can become serious and cause complications, some of which can become life-threatening. The best way to prevent an infection of your stitches is to keep them clean and dry and to avoid touching them unnecessarily while your wound is healing.
Most doctors prefer you have stitches removed in their office, but not everyone heeds that advice. There are many different types of sutures, just like there are many different kinds of procedures and injuries. Sutures are used to close wounds and….
0コメント