The important first step is to remove all dead tissue and contaminants from the wound area. Ideally this just involves cleaning the wound with soap and water, but in more serious wounds it can involve debridement, or the physical removal of dead and dying tissue, in which case you absolutely need to be under a doctors care. In this stage, you need to be aware that infection could already be beginning, and look for the signs: redness around the wound, pus in the wound, a foul smell coming from the wound and/or warmth radiating from the wound.
Once the wound is cleaned, you must provide a good healing environment. Up until fairly recently, it was believed that wounds healed better if left exposed to the air, but that has been proven not to be true, and the wound needs to be covered so as not to pass the infection on, and contaminate your living environment. Keep your wound moist with an antibiotic oinment (such as Neosporin), or just plain petroleum jelly and a sterile bandage that is sealed to your skin on all four sides. Change the dressing daily until your wound is actively and noticeably healing.
If your wound does not seem to be healing after a few weeks, you need to see your doctor and be checked for underlying conditions that may be causing a disruption in your immune system function. Also if you suspect an infection is forming, see your doctor immediately.
Infection Prevention
2 responses so far ↓
gale // Jun 16, 2008 at 9:54 pm
am i still a carrier of MRSA even if the wound is healed? is there a tendency that it goes back again?
Jesse // Oct 21, 2011 at 8:45 pm
It can and most likely will if you dont boost your immune system!… Take all your meds drnk probiotics!! Eat healthy and be awzre of all the grosebess out there and remember to wash your hands!!.. You can beat this thing im on my 4th bout.. But determind to get healthy and stay that way .. I sware by manuka honey.. Its a bioactive life saver it kills mrsa!!
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