Treatment Approaches  Infection
Infection impairs all dimensions of wound healing. The signs of infection include:
- Pain/tenderness
- Redness (cellulitis)
- Drainage
- Odor
Drainage, redness, and odor are absolutely abnormal. If any of these occur, please call the Columbia Wound Healing Center—212.932.4325.
Osteomyelitis refers to an acute or chronic infection of the bone. Osteo refers to bone, and myelo refers to marrow cavity, both of which are involved in this disease. Acute osteomyelitis refers to a newly recognized bone infection. The term chronic osteomyelitis is used to describe recurrence of a previously treated or untreated infection.
By definition, ulcers that penetrate to visible bone have osteomyelitis. In these cases, antibiotics are administered before rather than after surgery.
Oral and IV antibiotics are specifically chosen based on the type of bacteria growing in the wound. If cellulitis (redness) or other signs of infection have not improved after a week of oral antibiotics, please contact the wound healing center.
Used correctly, antibiotics can promote a clean wound bed that will stimulate wound healing. If an infection is present, oral antibiotics are initially given. If cellulitis (redness) or other signs of infection have not improved after a week of oral antibiotics, intravenous (IV) antibiotics will be administered.
Debridement is a surgical procedure used to accomplish three goals:
- Stimulate wound healing
- Remove non-living tissue
- Remove infected tissue
Once non-living and infected tissue has been removed, the wound is stimulated to contract and heal.
To learn more about debridement, please click here.
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