Which statement describes signs that most strongly suggest infection in a wound?

Which statement describes signs that most strongly suggest infection in a wound?

• A. Increased drainage with foul odor, warmth, redness, fever.
• B. Decreased drainage and cool skin.
• C. Minimal pain and dry wound edges.
• D. Granulation tissue formation and rosy color.

Answer: (A)

Wound infection most strongly shows when the body’s inflammatory response is driving visible and systemic changes. Purulent or increased drainage with a foul odor reflects bacterial infection producing pus-like exudate. Local warmth and redness signal inflammation around the wound as blood flow increases to fight invading organisms. A fever indicates the infection is affecting the body systemically, not just locally. The other signs don’t point to infection as clearly. Decreased drainage with cool skin can suggest poor perfusion or noninfectious issues, not active infection. Minimal pain and dry wound edges may occur during healing when the wound is drying out or epithelializing, not from infection. Granulation tissue formation with a rosy color is typical of healthy healing, showing new tissue and good blood supply rather than infection. So the combination of increased drainage with foul odor, warmth, redness, and fever is the strongest indicator of wound infection.

Wound infection most strongly shows when the body’s inflammatory response is driving visible and systemic changes. Purulent or increased drainage with a foul odor reflects bacterial infection producing pus-like exudate. Local warmth and redness signal inflammation around the wound as blood flow increases to fight invading organisms. A fever indicates the infection is affecting the body systemically, not just locally.

The other signs don’t point to infection as clearly. Decreased drainage with cool skin can suggest poor perfusion or noninfectious issues, not active infection. Minimal pain and dry wound edges may occur during healing when the wound is drying out or epithelializing, not from infection. Granulation tissue formation with a rosy color is typical of healthy healing, showing new tissue and good blood supply rather than infection.

So the combination of increased drainage with foul odor, warmth, redness, and fever is the strongest indicator of wound infection.