Why can a healing wound become infected on a below knee amputation?
An amputation is a serious surgery and can become infected due to any type of exposure to microorganisms including not using sterile conditions when changing dressings i.e not using sterile gloves, swabs, dressings, etc and especially from not washing hands before and after coming in contact with the wound.Also if the wound is not kept dry and clean because moist and unclean conditions provide a very good medium for microorganisms to grow. If it’s not completely healed it is very important to maintain sterile asepsis because the chance of developing infection is greater. Hope this helps…call your doctor as well because they may need to prescribe you meds.
