How to prevent Wound Infections and Treating Infected Cuts and Bruises - Hansaplast India
                     How to prevent Wound Infections and Treating Infected Cuts and  
Bruises - Hansaplast India
When bacteria or other germs enter a break in the damaged skin barrier, it causes a wound  
infection. The infection may affect only the skin or spread deeper to the tissues or organs near  
the wound. As the bacteria fights the immune system, it causes inflammation and tissue  
damage, slowing down the healing process. When left untreated, these infections can worsen  
and may necessitate medical attention.
What are the signs of a wound infection?
If you have not taken the right care of your wound, you may notice the following symptoms a  
few days after getting it :
* The wound becomes more painful instead of gradually improving
* The skin near the wound gets warm, red, painful, or swollen
* Excess discharge of blood or pus
* A foul odour emitted from the wound
If the infection spreads further, the redness will keep spreading to more areas of the skin. You  
may feel unwell, get a temperature or face aches and pains.
Thankfully, acute wounds such as minor cuts or scratches may not require major medical help.  
Instead, you can treat these types of wounds at home by following a simple wound care  
process. However, severe wounds that involve significant bleeding will require immediate  
medical attention. Therefore, you need to follow these steps to know how to treat infected  
wounds and minimise the risk of infection :
* Stop the bleeding
* The first and foremost care you can take to treat cuts is to stop the bleeding. In most cases,  
bleeding due to minor scratches and cuts usually stops on its own. However, if the bleeding  
does not stop, exert gentle pressure on the infected scratch with a clean and sterile cloth or  
gauze pad to control it. You shouldn’t remove the cloth if the blood seeps in, instead put other  
layers of dry cloth, and continue applying pressure until the bleeding stops. You can even try  
elevating the area if the cut or bruise is on your legs or hands, which can also help to reduce  
bleeding. Clean the cut or the bruise
* hether it is a freshly formed wound or an infected cut, cleaning the affected site is important  
in slowing down the spread of infection. For a fresh wound, once the bleeding stops, you can  
use antiseptics to stop the germs to prevent wound infection. It will help if you take a clean and  
dry cloth or gauze pad to simply dab on the infected cut.
Tend the wounds with antibiotic cream
As bacteria and other germs cause infections, treating infected wounds with antibiotic cream is  
essential. Since antibiotic cream is antimicrobial, applying a thin layer of cream works as an  
effective wound infection treatment. Evenly spread the cream on the infected wound using a  
clean gauze pad and don’t rub vigorously.
* Dress the wound with plasters
It is well-known that covering your wound with platers promotes faster healing. You can use  
breathable plasters, such as regular plasters from Hansaplast, over a thin layer of antibiotic  
cream. Plasters protect the wound from dust and other germs and offer the perfect wound  
treatment process closure. If the wound site is larger, go for plasters such as Hansaplast jumbo  
plaster, which provides better coverage for bigger wounds. You must frequently change the  
dressing to keep the infected area clean and clear.
* Arrange for a tetanus shot if needed
In some cases, if your wound is in contact with soil, you are at risk of getting tetanus, a bacterial  
infection. Many people associate tetanus with rusty knives or other rusty metal objects. But,  
contrary to popular belief, tetanus has nothing to do with rust itself. Any bacteria on the object,  
rusty or not that penetrates your skin can cause tetanus. Most people are protected from  
tetanus by routine vaccination. But if you have neither taken a tetanus shot nor its booster  
dose, seek medical help immediately.