Take These Steps to Prevent Wound Infection

Dr. Farouk Marzouk is a board-certified vascular surgeon who sees patients at Frontier Medical Care in the Bay Ridge area of Brooklyn, New York.

Known for his significant skill and experience in accurately diagnosing and treating vascular disease, Dr. Marzouk is also a wound care specialist who’s happy to explain how you can prevent wound infection and the treatments you might need when a wound becomes chronic.

Home care for wounds

Always seek medical care for wounds that appear deeper than half an inch, bleed profusely without stopping completely within about 20 minutes, or are large with gaping wound edges.

Otherwise, whether yours is a laceration, abrasion, or puncture wound, take these steps to help prevent infection:

• Wash your hands if possible before caring for the wound
• Use a clean cloth to cover the wound and apply pressure to stop bleeding
• Flush dirt and other loose debris from the wound with clean water and pat dry
• Examine the wound and see a physician if objects appear to be embedded in the wound
• Clean the area around the wound with antibacterial soap 
• Apply a thin layer of antibiotic ointment to the wound to help prevent infection
• Cover the wound with clean gauze dressing or waterproof bandage
• Change the bandage every 24 hours or right away if it becomes dirty or wet
• Monitor wound for redness, warmth, swelling, drainage, and other signs of infection

Puncture wounds carry an increased risk of infection and may require a doctor’s care, especially those that are deep, caused by a nail or other metal object, or occur as the result of an animal bite.

You may also need a tetanus booster, which must be obtained within 48 hours of the injury. 

What are chronic wounds?

Chronic wounds are those that don’t heal as expected or show little or no improvement within 30 days of the injury.

Often related to underlying vascular disease that compromises your circulatory health or conditions such as diabetes that impair healing, types of chronic wounds include:

• Surgical wounds
• Diabetic foot ulcers
• Venous stasis ulcers related to chronic venous insufficiency or varicose veins
• Pressure ulcers caused by prolonged bed rest or ill-fitting shoes
• Ischemic ulcers caused by poor blood flow often related to peripheral artery disease

Note that bacterial infections that are resistant to antibiotic therapy, such as methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), can also impair wound healing.

Treating chronic wounds

Depending on the type of wound and the underlying cause, Dr. Marzouk may recommend one or more in-office treatments for chronic wound care, including:

• Skin grafting
• Regenerative medicine therapies
• Dermal substitutes
• Collagen wound dressings
• Surgical wound closure
• Hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT)
• Vacuum-assisted wound closure (VAC)

You can also help ensure a successful treatment outcome for chronic wounds by carefully following home care instructions provided by Dr. Marzouk during your office visits.

For more information about chronic wound care or any of the services we offer, schedule an evaluation with Dr. Marzouk at Frontier Medical Care today.