Which is a sign of a surgical infection?

Which is a sign of a surgical infection?

• A. Redness
• B. Weight gain
• C. Hair loss
• D. Elevated mood

Answer: (A)

Redness around a surgical incision signals inflammation that can indicate infection. When a wound is recruiting immune cells to fight bacteria, blood flow increases, causing redness and often warmth, swelling, and tenderness. Redness is a classic early clue that something may be going wrong and should be assessed and reported so the care team can determine if further treatment is needed. Other options don’t fit infection signs: weight gain isn’t a direct wound-infection indicator (it can reflect fluid balance issues), hair loss isn’t related to a post-op wound, and elevated mood isn’t associated with infection. In practice, redness paired with warmth, increasing tenderness, drainage, fever, or foul odor would prompt prompt evaluation and action.

Redness around a surgical incision signals inflammation that can indicate infection. When a wound is recruiting immune cells to fight bacteria, blood flow increases, causing redness and often warmth, swelling, and tenderness. Redness is a classic early clue that something may be going wrong and should be assessed and reported so the care team can determine if further treatment is needed. Other options don’t fit infection signs: weight gain isn’t a direct wound-infection indicator (it can reflect fluid balance issues), hair loss isn’t related to a post-op wound, and elevated mood isn’t associated with infection. In practice, redness paired with warmth, increasing tenderness, drainage, fever, or foul odor would prompt prompt evaluation and action.