Patient case: Postoperative Wound Infection
A 55-year-old female presents to the clinic with redness, swelling, and pain around her surgical incision site two weeks after undergoing a routine abdominal hysterectomy. She reports increasing discomfort over the past few days, along with fever, chills, and malaise. On examination, the incision site appears erythematous with mild purulent discharge, and the surrounding tissue is tender and warm to the touch.
Her vital signs reveal a low-grade fever of 38°C and a mildly elevated heart rate. Laboratory tests show an elevated white blood cell count (WBC 14,500/µL) and elevated C-reactive protein (CRP), indicating inflammation. A wound culture is obtained, and empirical broad-spectrum antibiotics are initiated.
The patient is diagnosed with a postoperative wound infection, likely caused by bacterial contamination during surgery. The wound is opened and drained, with daily dressing changes initiated to manage the infection. After several days of antibiotic therapy and local wound care, the patient’s symptoms improve, and the infection resolves without further complications.
a). Vomiting and diarrhea
b). Fever, redness, swelling, and purulent discharge
c). Shortness of breath and chest pain
d). Abdominal distension and constipation
a). Abdominal CT scan
b). Wound culture and elevated white blood cell count
c). Chest X-ray
d). Blood glucose levels
a). Surgical re-exploration
b). Broad-spectrum antibiotics and wound drainage
c). Antifungal therapy
d). Intravenous fluids only
a). Suture removal and resuturing
b). Wound opening, drainage, and daily dressing changes
c). Laparoscopic intervention
d). Steroid injection at the wound site
