Infections

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Abstract
When to sample It is inappropriate to swab all wounds: swabs should be taken only from overtly infected wounds and from wounds that are deteriorating, increasing in size, or failing to make satisfactory progress despite an optimal environment for wound healing. Indicators of wound infection include redness, swelling, purulent exudate, smell, pain, and systemic illness in the absence of other foci. Subtle signs of local wound infection include unhealthy “foamy” granulation tissue, contact bleeding, tissue breakdown, and epithelial bridging. Staphylococcus aureus Semiquantitative analysis of swab showing light or scanty, moderate, and heavy growth of Staphylococcus aureus Further reading Hasham S, Matteucci P, Stanley PR, Hart NB . Necrotising fasciitis. BMJ 2005; 330: 830–3. Weigelt J, Itani K, Stevens D, Lau W, Dryden M, Knirsch C, Linezolid CSSTI Study Group . Linezolid versus vancomycin in treatment of complicated skin and soft tissue infections. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2005; 49: 2260–6. Eron LJ, Lipsky BA, Low DE, Nathwani D, Tice AD, Volturo GA, Expert Panel on Managing Skin and Soft Tissue Infections . Managing skin and soft tissue infections: expert panel recommendations on key decision points. J Antimicrob Chemother 2003; 52 (suppl 1): i3–17. Bisno AL, Cockerill FR 3rd., Bermudez CT . The initial outpatient-physician encounter in group A streptococcal necrotizing fasciitis. Clin Infect Dis 2000; 31: 607–8.