How to disinfect an infected wound?

Every day you are exposed to accidents, either at home while doing your chores or performing your work duties. If not taken care of properly, bumps and scrapes can quickly turn into an infected wound, but there is a solution for these situations.

For this, it is necessary to have specific knowledge of first aid, such as the ones we will transmit below.

Table of Contents

Measures to prevent a wound from becoming infected

As long as the skin is intact, it acts as a natural barrier against bacteria. If you suffer a cut, the moist tissue becomes a breeding ground for germs that penetrate the body and increase rapidly.

What causes a wound to become infected?

Body-dwelling germs enter the damage through the surrounding healthy skin.
The damage becomes infected with bacteria, a product of not practicing correct hygiene in damaged tissues, by contact with pets or other contaminating agents.
Germs from the environment come into contact with the wound.
Touch the wound with contaminated hands.

Wound is infected

An innocent scrape can quickly turn into a dangerous infected wound if care is not taken. When this happens, the signs of infection are clear: secretions, changes in color, and intense pain in the affected area.

So if you currently have a wound, don’t overlook the following signs:

redness and swelling
Inflamed wound edges
Hot temperature in the injured area
The appearance of yellowish liquid
stabbing pain to touch

How to disinfect an infected wound?

Infected wounds must be treated with great care.

Disinfect the wound. Use a sterilized gauze impregnated with antiseptic liquid.
Clean the entire affected area. Don’t just focus on the wound; it’s vital to remove all the dirt around it. Avoid rubbing it very hard so as not to damage it more, using soap and water. Try to clean all vestiges of impurities.
Apply medication before covering the wound, especially if it has blisters or discharge. Apply antibiotic cream or other drugs topically and consistently recommended by a health professional.
Tracking. Every day you must make sure that it is healing. Now, if you notice that the wound remains red and swollen over the days, it is possible that it is a more complex infection and deserves the attention of a hospital or even surgery.

Knowing how to clean an infected wound, you are now more aware of the importance of having a first aid kit at home, which allows you to act immediately in the event of an incident.

Ethyl alcohol. Products that cannot be missing in the home. Since it is a powerful bactericide, you can heal closed wounds or disinfect their surroundings.
Iodine . A 10% povidone-iodine solution acts as an effective antiseptic.
Hydrogen peroxide. Its effects are very beneficial for healing open wounds, acting quickly to kill most germs. Because blood contains an enzyme that acts as a catalyst, it speeds up the decomposition reaction of hydrogen peroxide. And since most bacteria cannot live with oxygen, they die in the white foam rich in oxygen.
Chlorhexidine. It is a very effective and easy to apply disinfectant to treat wounds, accelerating their healing. Containing chlorhexidine, a topical antiseptic that is both bactericidal and fungicidal, it can be used in cesarean sections and umbilical cord healing, among others, to prevent the reproduction of bacteria.
I am repairing aloe vera. It is designed to soothe, nourish and regenerate the skin, using the natural power of Aloe Vera and without artificial colors.
Healing ointments. These ointments accelerate the healing of superficial wounds such as cuts and abrasions. It is also effective on open wounds and affected skin. Its protective action creates a breathable film to prevent further damage.
70% hydroalcoholic lotion. It is a gel with 70% alcohol, which also contains vegetable glycerin to moisturize the hands, and you will use it to disinfect the hands before handling the wounds.