Which clinical finding would indicate an infection in a decubitus wound?

Which clinical finding would indicate an infection in a decubitus wound?

• A. Clear drainage
• B. Purulent drainage with surrounding redness and warmth
• C. Dry, pale tissue
• D. Minimal tenderness

Answer: (B)

The signs most indicative of infection in a pressure (decubitus) wound are purulent drainage along with surrounding redness and warmth. Purulent drainage means pus is present, which reflects bacterial activity and tissue-invading infection. When this pus is accompanied by redness and warmth around the wound, it shows the local inflammatory response is active and that bacteria may be spreading in the tissue, signaling infection rather than normal healing. In contrast, clear drainage is just serous fluid and not a marker of infection; dry, pale tissue suggests ischemia or necrosis rather than infection; minimal tenderness doesn’t point to an infectious process. So the presence of pus-like drainage with surrounding redness and warmth best indicates an infection in a decubitus wound.

The signs most indicative of infection in a pressure (decubitus) wound are purulent drainage along with surrounding redness and warmth. Purulent drainage means pus is present, which reflects bacterial activity and tissue-invading infection. When this pus is accompanied by redness and warmth around the wound, it shows the local inflammatory response is active and that bacteria may be spreading in the tissue, signaling infection rather than normal healing.

In contrast, clear drainage is just serous fluid and not a marker of infection; dry, pale tissue suggests ischemia or necrosis rather than infection; minimal tenderness doesn’t point to an infectious process. So the presence of pus-like drainage with surrounding redness and warmth best indicates an infection in a decubitus wound.