Ick
 

Hm, how would I know if my cut was infected?

I cut really badly a week ago and had it looked at on monday (too late for stitches but doctor managed to pull it together with lots of steristrips) just had a look now and it stinks, really smells. Sounds awful I know, its kinda like a vinegary smell. Is this normal or so I need it looking at. I'm never certain if what cuts leak is the healing 'stuff' or its infected as well..

Hopeless I know sorry

xx

The smell does sound like it might be infected. Although there are a few other signs as well which can indcate an infection.
*is the area around the wound warm to touch?
*What colour is the stuff coming out of the wound?
*is there an increase in pain?
*Is there any swelling or redness?

Below is an article on infections, which might just clarify things a little better for you.

Take care
Kim

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Bacterial infection



Common signs and symptoms of bacterial infection include:
an elevated body temperature, sweating, chills, confusion, increased pulse rate
fast breathing
Signs of infection of the skin are:
Drainage (pus is thick yellow-, green-, or grey-white-as opposed to being clear and thin. It contains infection-fighting white blood cells.)
Tenderness
Swelling ("Inflammation")
Redness ("Erythema") or Red Streaks
Warmth of the Skin, compared to surrounding areas
Unpleasant Odor
In addition, people who have bacterial infection often have elevated numbers of circulating white blood cells in their blood stream. People may also have other symptoms of infections depending on the location of the infection.

Bacterial Infection

Bacteria cause disease in two ways: they release toxins that harm and kill body cells, and they provoke the immune system, leading to inflammation, which can in itself be harmful.

The body's first reaction to a bacterial invasion, as in any injury, is a general inflammatory reaction. Blood vessels in the area of the infection widen to increase the supply of white blood cells that fight infection. Blood proteins, called complement, are released into the system. Complement either kills the bacteria directly or attracts immune cells called phagocytes, which ingest and kill the bacteria. The body then produces more immune cells, including white blood cells called T cells, which kill foreign substances in the body. T cells stimulate other white blood cells called B cells to secrete specific antibodies. Antibodies are molecules that the body's immune system uses to identify a particular invader. Over a person's lifetime, the immune system develops millions of antibodies. In response to a bacterial invasion, the antibodies bind to bacteria and then attract complement and phagocytes, which kill the bacteria.

Fever enhances the body's defense mechanisms. Blood is moved into the interior of the body, to reduce heat loss. Then, when heat regulating mechanisms return to normal, the body reduces its temperature by returning blood to the skin and perspiring. Chills may result.
In many cases, the body's own defense mechanisms are capable of repelling attacks by invading microorganisms, like bacteria and viruses. When the bacteria succeeds in multiplying to the point where the body's natural defenses are not adequate, antibiotics may be needed to either destroy the bacteria completely, or else kill enough of them so that the immune system can finish the job.

Thanks, I can't say I saw the wound, took the dressing off, but it's still heavily stuck together with steristrips which I'm not meant to take off til monday ish. All I can say is that my arm, in that area looks a little swollen but that could be because of the size of the initial wound in the first place or something. The stuff I saw was what had got through the steristrips and the stuff on the dressing it was yellowy brown, mostly dry I think by this point.

x

Make sure that you redress the wound now to keep it clean. DO NOT reuse the old dressing.

Does the wound still have a smell to it?


AD

Although the smell is a little concerning, none of the other factors indicate that the wound is infected. Is it possible that the smell maybe comes from something that was used on your wound in the hospital. For example an anti septic solution.

For now i would recomened keeping an eye on the wound. If there is an increase in the amount of dishcarge and its a thick, yellow/green colour, or if the wound feels hot, then it might be worth seeing your GP for a quick check up to rule out infection.

Take care
Kim

Thanks, still vinegary hm..cheers for the advice anywaya, got a new dressing on it x