Possible signs of wound infection include increasing redness, warmth, swelling, pain, pus-like drainage, an unpleasant odor, delayed healing, fever, or red streaks near the wound. A clinician should evaluate these changes promptly, especially in someone with diabetes, poor circulation, or a weakened immune system.
Some tenderness and mild redness can occur early in normal healing. Infection becomes more concerning when redness expands, pain increases instead of improving, the skin feels unusually warm, or swelling develops around the wound.
Drainage should be considered together with the wound's appearance and the patient's overall condition. Thick yellow, green, brown, or pus-like drainage; a new strong odor after cleansing; increasing drainage; or new dark tissue can warrant assessment. Drainage color alone cannot confirm infection.
Fever, chills, unusual fatigue, confusion, rapid breathing, dizziness, or a fast heartbeat may mean an infection is no longer limited to the wound. Older adults may develop confusion or weakness without a high fever.
Seek emergency care for rapidly spreading redness, red streaks, severe or disproportionate pain, confusion, fainting, difficulty breathing, or signs that a limb has become cold, pale, blue, or numb. Do not wait for a scheduled home visit when these symptoms are present.
Call 877-545-1300 or request a provider to begin care. Healix360 serves Southern California and Nevada and accepts Medicare Part B and most major insurance plans.