Wound infection: what is it, how to prevent it, and what to do about it?

What is a wound infection?

• A wound is infected when microorganisms, usually bacteria, are present that damage local tissue and delay wound healing.
• A wound infection can be recognized by: swelling around the wound, increased pain at the wound site, redness at the wound site, a throbbing sensation at the wound site, and a red ring around the wound.
• If left untreated, pus formation, a foul odor, and fever follow. If the infection spreads to your bloodstream, you can eventually die from a wound that started out small.

What to do in case of an infection or a wound while traveling?

In the tropics

• Small skin wounds in the tropics can quickly develop into serious infections and persistent ulcers.
• So treat every tiny wound very carefully!
• Disinfect as much as possible and, depending on the situation, protect the wound appropriately from "external hazards."
• If there is no response after a few days, an antibiotic may be necessary. See a doctor if you have a fever, pus, or red streaks from the wound.

Outside the tropics

• In principle, treat as you would at home, although it may be helpful to exercise some extra caution while traveling.

How can you disinfect a wound?

1. Start by cleaning the wound with clean, lukewarm drinking water or saline solution. This will remove dirt and some bacteria from the wound.
2. Next, preferably use povidone-iodine (betadine), a special type of iodine that doesn't sting and has few side effects. Betadine is the name for products containing povidone-iodine.
3. Cover the wound with sterile gauze or a bandage to prevent new dirt from entering the wound.
4. Aftercare: Change the gauze or bandage at least once a day as long as the wound is open or moist. While changing the gauze or bandage, check the wound for signs of infection and, if necessary, rinse it again, let it air dry, and then apply a new gauze or bandage.

Explanation:

• The sooner you clean the wound, the smaller the chance for infection
• For small, superficial wounds, Sterilon is a slightly less effective, but effective alternative to Betadine.
• Do not use alcohol on open wounds.
• You can clean the skin around the wound with mild soap.

What to do after a coral wound?

• Be careful with coral wounds. They can heal very slowly and eventually cause unpleasant infections.
• Clean thoroughly and remove all coral fragments.
• How to prevent this: wear (water) shoes and a wetsuit as much as possible when swimming, surfing or snorkeling over a coral reef.

Are you insured against infection or stitching a wound while traveling abroad?

Travel insurance coverage:

Emergency medical care abroad is usually covered by your travel insurance and includes:

• a sudden infection
• stitching and dressing wounds
• antibiotics prescribed by a doctor