title: Identifying and treating wound infection.
abstract: The presence of infection is a major causative factor for delayed or nonhealing wounds. Indiscriminate and routine wound cultures are not recommended, but after the clinical diagnosis of infection is made, culture is recommended to identify the causative organisms and guide antibiotic therapy. The purpose of this article is to discuss how to identify and confirm wound infection and the use of topical and systemic antibiotic agents to treat wound infection.
authors.affiliation: Wound Care Education Program, Medical University of South Carolina, College of Nursing, Charleston, South Carolina 29425, USA. bonhamp@musc.edu
authors.forename: Phyllis A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Bonham
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D005851:Geriatric Nursing; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D018579:Patient Selection; D014945:Wound Healing; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents