Wound infections can spread, become life-threatening
UCI Health Regional Burn Center medical director discusses warning signs
IN THE NEWS: It’s important that wounds, including cuts and scrapes are immediately cleaned with soap and water to prevent infection. Applying pressure to wounds can help to stop bleeding although in some cases, stiches might be needed.
Dr. Syed F. Saquib, medical director of the UCI Health Regional Burn Center, spoke to WebMD about when to seek medical treatment for an infected wound.
“If there is indeed an infection, antibiotics may be necessary. If you don’t seek timely care for an infected wound, it can spread and, in extreme cases, become life-threatening.”
Signs of infection include discharge, swelling and a fever of 101 degrees or more.
Always cover an open wound with a clean bandage. Most minor cuts and scrapes will feel better in a few days.
Saquib is a trauma surgeon and an associate professor in the Department of Surgery at the UC Irvine School of Medicine.
About UCI Health
UCI Health is one of California’s largest academic health systems and the clinical enterprise of the University of California, Irvine. Established on July 1, 1976, UCI Health has grown into a 1,461-bed health system that includes UCI Health — Orange, UCI Health — Irvine, four Community Network hospitals and a growing network of ambulatory care centers across Orange and Los Angeles counties. As Orange County’s only academic health systems, UCI Health is home to the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center based in the county, the region’s only American College of Surgeons-verified Level I adult and Level II pediatric trauma center, American College of Emergency Physicians Gold Level 1 Geriatric Emergency Department and a nationally recognized regional burn center verified by the American Burn Association. Powered by UC Irvine, UCI Health serves 5.6 million people across Orange County, western Riverside County and southeast Los Angeles County through excellence in patient care, research and medical education. Follow UCI Health on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.