What is the treatment for a minor wound infection?

Treatment of Minor Wound Infections

For minor wound infections, treatment should include thorough wound cleansing with running tap water or sterile saline, followed by application of an occlusive dressing, and medical evaluation if signs of worsening infection develop. 1

Initial Assessment and Wound Care

• Thoroughly irrigate superficial wounds until there is no obvious debris or foreign matter in the wound 1
• Use running tap water or sterile saline solutions for wound irrigation instead of antiseptic agents such as povidone-iodine 1
• After cleaning, cover clean superficial wounds with an occlusive dressing (film, petrolatum, hydrogel, or cellulose/collagen dressings) to promote wound healing 1
• Occlusive dressings result in better wound healing than dry dressings and maintain a moist wound environment essential for optimal healing 1, 2

Signs of Infection Requiring Medical Attention

• If redness, swelling, foul-smelling wound drainage, increased pain, or fever develops, remove the dressing, inspect the wound, and obtain medical care 1
• These signs indicate potential infection progression requiring professional evaluation 1, 3

Antibiotic Treatment for Infected Wounds

Mild Superficial Infections

• For mild superficial infections, first-line antibiotic options include:
  • Amoxicillin-clavulanic acid 1
  • Cloxacillin 1
  • Cefalexin 1
• Incision and drainage is the primary treatment for simple abscesses or boils, often without requiring antibiotics 4

Special Considerations

• Animal or human bite wounds or wounds contaminated with saliva should be evaluated in a medical facility as soon as possible 1
• For animal bites, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid is the recommended oral treatment 1
• For diabetic wound infections, antibiotic selection should be based on infection severity and likely pathogens 4

Topical Antimicrobial Options

• Bacitracin can be used as first aid to help prevent infection and provide temporary relief of pain or discomfort in minor cuts, scrapes, and burns 5
• Triple-antibiotic ointment (containing neomycin, polymyxin B, and bacitracin) is effective for preventing infections in minor skin trauma 6
• Topical antimicrobials should be considered for prophylaxis rather than treatment of established infections 6, 7

Duration of Treatment

• For mild infections, antibiotic therapy typically lasts 1-2 weeks 4
• Antibiotics should be continued until resolution of infection signs, not through complete wound healing 8

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Treating clinically uninfected wounds with antibiotics is unnecessary and may contribute to antibiotic resistance 8, 9
• Using antiseptic irrigation (like povidone-iodine) offers no advantage over sterile saline or tap water 1, 9
• Continuing antibiotics through complete wound healing rather than just until resolution of infection signs 8
• Failing to obtain proper cultures before starting antibiotics in moderate to severe infections 8

When to Refer to Specialists

• Severe infections or moderate infections in high-risk patients require initial parenteral antibiotics and possible specialist referral 9
• Wounds that involve the face, joints, bone, tendons, or nerves should generally be referred to wound care specialists 9