Perioperative Nursing Care Practice Test

Signs of infection in a postoperative wound often include pain and induration, among other symptoms. When a wound is infected, the body mounts an inflammatory response, which can lead to increased pain due to the release of inflammatory mediators. Induration, or the hardening of the surrounding tissue, occurs as a result of swelling and the body’s immune response, indicating that there may be an underlying infection.

While increased drainage can also be a sign of infection, not all drainage is indicative of an infection; some drainage may be normal post-surgery, especially if the wound is healing properly. A reduction in swelling and warmth is typically associated with healing rather than infection, making these symptoms less indicative of an infectious process. Therefore, recognizing pain and induration effectively highlights infection risk in postoperative wounds.