Treatments for an Infected Wound


 by Dr. Tina M. St. John

When there is a break, laceration or incision in the skin, a large number of bacteria — especially the bacteria that normally colonize the skin — can enter the body and cause infection.

Bacteria live virtually everywhere, including on your skin. A skin break due to a cut, scrape, burn or surgical incision gives bacteria an opportunity to potentially invade and cause a wound infection. The bacteria multiply and damage the involved tissue, interfering with wound healing and potentially spreading. Treatments vary depending on the site and severity of a wound infection.

Antiseptics

Antiseptics are chemicals applied to the skin that kill bacteria or inhibit their growth. These effects can help clear up a localized wound infection by reducing the number of bacteria in an open wound such that your immune system cells can eradicate those that remain.

Different antiseptics exert various effects on a broad spectrum of bacterial species. Because they are used topically, they only act locally and do not pose a risk for the systemic side effects that can occur with oral antibiotics, such as digestive system upset or a reduction in healthful gut bacteria.

Antiseptics come in different forms, including solutions, gels, creams, sprays, and infused bandages. Active ingredients in various antiseptic products used to treat localized wound infections include:

  • Benzalkonium
  • Chlorhexidine
  • Chloroxylenol
  • Polyhexanide
  • Iodine
  • Silver

Antibiotics

Prescription oral, intravenous or injected antibiotics are typically reserved for moderate to severe wound infections, as noted in 2014 guidelines issued by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. These medicines, however, are not recommended for mild wound infections.

The antibiotic prescribed depends on the type(s) of bacteria responsible and the severity of the infection. Common antibiotics prescribed for infected wounds include:

  • Penicillin
  • Dicloxacillin
  • Ceftriaxone
  • Cefazolin (Ancef)
  • Cephalexin (Keflex)
  • Clindamycin (Cleocin)
  • Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim, Septra, TMP/SMX)
  • Doxycycline (Doryx, Monodox, Vibramycin)

Topical antibiotics — like bacitracin/neomycin/polymyxin B (Neosporin), bacitracin/polymyxin B (Polysporin) or mupirocin (Bactroban) — typically play a limited role in the treatment of wound infections largely because of the risk of promoting antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Drainage and Debridement

Moderate to severe wound infections often require drainage and/or debridement— the medical term for cleaning debris and dead tissue from a wound.

Drainage is particularly important for abscesses (walled-off pockets of infection) and infected surgical incisions. This allows the bacteria and pus an escape route, giving your immune system cells a leg up to overcome the infection.

Debridement is an essential aspect of treatment for deep burns and wound infections that have spread to the soft tissues beneath the skin. The latter infections are rare but very serious and include gas gangrene and so-called flesh-eating infections (known medically as necrotizing faciitis).

When to See a Doctor

See a doctor right away if you suffer a bite (animal or human), a deep puncture injury, or a another skin wound contaminated with dirt or other debris that you cannot remove easily with soap and water. Also seek medical care without delay if you develop any warning signs or symptoms that might indicate a wound infection, including:

  • Spreading redness or red streaks radiating from a wound
  • Swelling, especially if increasing in extent
  • Warm or hot skin around a wound
  • Pus drainage
  • Foul odor emanating from the wound
  • Severe or increasing pain
  • Increasing wound size
  • Delayed healing
  • Fever and/or chills

Early treatment is particularly important if you have a condition that increases your risk for a serious wound infection, such as diabetes, poor circulation, or a weakened immune system due to disease or medications you take.

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