How should a nurse assess a surgical site for infection?

The most comprehensive method for assessing a surgical site for infection involves inspecting for warmth, drainage, and temperature. This approach is critical because these signs can provide valuable information about potential infections.

Warmth at the site often indicates increased blood flow, which may result from the body's immune response to infection. Drainage, especially if it is cloudy, foul-smelling, or has an unusual color, can be a direct indicator of infection. Checking the temperature of the surrounding skin as well as the patient's overall systemic temperature is crucial; a higher temperature may signal an infection that requires intervention.

While observing for swelling and redness can be part of the assessment process, these signs alone do not provide a complete picture. Similarly, solely asking the patient about pain is useful but does not cover the physical signs associated with infection. Performing an ultrasound might help visualize deeper structures but is not a standard assessment tool for initial infection evaluation in a postoperative setting. Therefore, a thorough investigation of warmth, drainage, and temperature is essential for identifying potential infections effectively.