If you’re a typically active person, at some point in your life you will have a break in the skin. This can be caused by a scratch from an object, a scrape from falling, a cut from a rusty nail, a knife slip when preparing food, an animal bite or perhaps an automobile accident.

However the wound is acquired, it’s important to treat the affected area in short order to prevent infection, which can cause a host of additional problems for the afflicted.

Most wounds are susceptible to bacteria contamination. But wounds become infected when the immune system is overwhelmed by bacteria growth and the bacteria have colonized. The result is the wound failing to heal or getting worse.

Infection is a health problem but particularly so if it occurs as a result of surgery. It is estimated that 70 percent of surgical deaths are caused by infections at the incision site.

Most infected wounds are caused by bacteria transferring from the skin, the outside environment or other parts of the body. The skin normally contains harmless bacteria if the skin is not penetrated. However, when a wound breaks the skin, the protective barrier is ruptured, allowing the bacteria to colonize the interior. This causes inflammation, which delays healing and may further damage the tissue, plus extreme pain, swelling, redness, pus discharge, and sometimes a foul odor. Staphylococcus aureus is the most common bacteria found in wound infections.

Dressing Is Key

Infections sometimes can occur because the wound was improperly dressed under unsanitary conditions, allowing dirt to infiltrate the wound. They also can occur in people with compromised immune systems, like the elderly or diabetics, who can’t easily fight off the encroaching bacteria.