Watch for Symptoms of a Surgical Wound Infection

A surgical wound infection refers to the growth of bacteria at the site where a patient has had a surgical incision. Infections occur rather frequently after surgery, depending on the procedure performed. Learning how to identify surgical wound infection is therefore important so that the appropriate treatment can be given immediately to prevent further complications such as sepsis (blood poisoning) and chronic infection. It is also important so you can know if your doctor has been negligent and if you may have a case for malpractice.

Causes of a Surgical Wound Infection

Generally, a surgical wound infection is the result of the reproduction of microorganisms in and  around the patient’s incision site. Microorganisms can reach wounds in several ways:

• One is through direct contact wherein the bacteria gets transferred from the hands of surgeons or through equipment.
  
• The second is though airborne dispersal. Air that is contaminated with the microorganisms can easily infect the surgical site.
  
• Lastly, microorganisms can get into wound through self-contamination. Perhaps with poor hygiene, the endogenous flora already present in the patient’s skin can migrate to the surgical wound.

If the infection was caused by the surgeon or through airborne dispersal in an unclean hospital room, you may be able to sue the doctor or hospital. As such, you should be aware of the symptoms both so you can get treatment immediately and so that you can document the problem for your medical malpractice case.

Symptoms of a Surgical Wound Infection

• The first general sign of a surgical wound infection is malaise. You may feel sluggish and lacking the energy to perform normal activities and you may sleep more hours than you usually do. 
• Watch out for any indications of swelling or redness around the incision within 3-10 days after the surgery. Signs of an infection also include redness in the tissues, which may manifest after a few weeks. It is therefore important to conduct periodic examinations of the wound until it completely heals. 
• The experience of pain is very common is surgical wounds. However, the pain associated with an infection is more intense and sharp. The pain is also accompanied by redness, and a heat sensation. As the wound heals, the pain should slowly diminish so if the level of pain increases at the incision site, this would be a sign of an infection. 
• Another sign and symptom is pus or a foul-smelling discharge draining out of the infected surgical wound. The discharge can be white, green, yellow, or blood-tinged. The discharge can also be thick and chunky.
• Infection is often accompanied by mild fevers and in some cases, chills. Patients with fevers should immediately seek medical attention.

Getting Help

If you have been diagnosed with a surgical wound infection, you should consult with a qualified lawyer who handles medical malpractice cases. Your attorney can assist you in determining if you have enough evidence to hold the doctor or hospital responsible for causing your infection.