Infection After Surgery
How To Avoid An Infection After Surgery
If you have just had surgery, you should be concerned with getting an infection after surgery. This is not a common occurrence but occasionally this does happen for several reasons. It may be because a person has not kept the wound cleaned or the doctor may have made a mistake during surgery. Most of the time, a doctor will prescribe precautionary antibiotics for after surgery care but sometimes he may choose not to because he believes that there won’t be a need for it. Usually, an infection after surgery happens because the wound has not been kept cleaned or properly bandaged.
There are many tell tale signs of an infection after surgery. The first is usually a high fever and it is recommended that after any surgery, you should take your temperature on a daily basis. If you have a small incision and not many stitches, you shouldn’t have to worry about an infection after surgery. But if you have had a major surgery with a bigger incision and many stitches, you should consult the doctor about how to keep it properly cleaned and taken care of.
Fatigue and a lack of energy is sign of an infection after surgery. It is completely normal to feel this way right after a surgical procedure and this feeling can last for days depending on how severe the surgery was. But over the course of a few days to a week, these symptoms should start to disappear. You should begin to feel a bit better everyday and notice improvement. But if this symptom appears suddenly, you may want to contact a doctor immediately.
Along with these first symptoms, you may also start to feel pain around the surgery site. Again, it is normal to feel a degree of pain right after the surgery but if the pain suddenly develops, this is a sign that there is something wrong. The area may also become hot to the touch and this is a way that the body naturally fights an infection. There may also be drainage coming from the incision area. Usually this drainage is a yellow to cloudy white color and there can be pus present. The skin around the incision can become red, purple, black or a green color. A signature red streaking may also occur. At this point the incision can become hardened and swollen and it can have a yellow crusty substance covering the area.
There are a few things you can do yourself to avoid having an infection after surgery. Always take any antibiotics and other medications the doctor has prescribed for you. Continue to take this medication even after the site starts to improve and heal and take them until they are gone. Try not to touch the incision area and always keep your hands washed and cleaned when you do have to touch it. You will have to keep the area covered with a bandage for at least 24 hours after surgery. Do not touch the wound or get it wet at this point. After the 24 hours is up, you can clean the wound with a mild antibacterial soap. Avoid using harsh cleaners like alcohol that can slow down the healing process and clean with a simple soap twice a day. Make sure to let the wound dry before you cover it with a bandage. Only use an antibacterial ointment if the doctor recommends it. If he does not, you shouldn’t use it. These ointments can keep moisture inside of the cut. A warm, moist cut is a perfect place for bacteria to grow and thrive. Always follow the doctor’s instruction for after surgery care.