CHALLENGING CLINICAL JUDGEMENT

Infection vs
Inflammation

The local and systemic factors that contribute to inflammation need to be identified and managed.

This website will take you through the challenges of infection and inflammation in chronic wounds, through education we can help identify inflammation and achieve the optimal healing environment through the appropriate treatment.

Webcast

This webcast is the perfect introduction to the difference between infection versus inflammation that can help you in practice. Breda Cullen, Paul Chadwick and Jacqui Fletcher guide us through the impact of inflammation, the differences compared to infection, and introduce an holistic approach to managing infection and inflammation.

Signs of infection and inflammation1

Infection

Persistent swelling
Redness around the wound that continues to expand or worsen
Increasing or continual wound pain
Increased skin temperature near the wound and possibly spreading from the wound
Loss of function and movement in the wounded area
Exudate more likely to be:
  • Thick
  • Cloudy, milky or opaque
  • Green, yellow, tan, brown or red
  • Malodourous
Friable granulation tissue that bleeds easily
Pocketing/bridging at the base of the wound
Wound breakdown/enlargement

Cellulitis/redness

Inflammation

Local swelling that decreases over time
Redness that decreases over time
Pain worsens with stimuli (e.g. touching or dressing change) and decreases over time; may increase and become continual in stalled/hard-to-heal wounds
Increased skin temperature near the wound
Loss of function and movement in the wounded area
Exudate more likely to be:
  • Thin, watery or slightly thicker than water
  • Clear
  • Amber, straw-coloured or pink
References:
1. Fletcher J, Chadwick P 2019 Identifying and managing inflammation Wounds UK Made Easy. London.