Treatment of purulent wounds on the legs: the effectiveness of using ointments and the rules for their application, the use of antibiotics and folk remedies, a review of the best drugs

Various injuries to the skin are called wounds. Most often they are harmless and can be treated at home. But sometimes even minor damage to the skin leads to inflammation. Often suppuration occurs on the arms or legs, especially in the warm season. Various skin lesions can become inflamed due to poor hygiene, reduced immunity, or the presence of chronic diseases. In some cases, self-treatment of purulent wounds on the legs does not help, and it has to be done in a hospital. It is very important to notice the appearance of pus in time and use the drugs necessary to remove it. If this is not done, inflammation can lead to the development of various complications.

Diagnostics

Treatment of purulent wounds on the legs will be more effective the sooner it is started. By themselves, they are not the most pleasant sight, but doctors are not interested in the aesthetic side, but in the depth of suppuration. Further treatment depends on how advanced the process is. Delaying contact with a doctor can lead to an abscess. As a result, gangrene develops. Therefore, before starting treatment for purulent wounds on the legs, it is necessary to show the patient to a doctor and determine the stage of healing.

Complications and consequences

The main complication after surgery is wound suppuration, which must be combated by all means.

Often, after the sutures are removed and the patient is discharged home, the inflammatory process begins again and repeated suppuration occurs. This happens with secondary infection of a protracted wound, for example, in cases when a person begins to peel off the crusts that have formed along the cut line, thereby injuring new tissue. With such actions, harmful microorganisms can enter small wounds and cause a new inflammatory process.

Secondary infection or the spread of an existing one often occurs due to improper and insufficient treatment of sutures, when the patient neglects to change dressings in a timely manner and does not use prescribed products.

After discharge home, special attention should be paid to the condition of the sutures and the resulting scar. If severe redness of the skin, swelling, swelling of the tissues, or new purulent formations appear around it, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Kinds

Surgeons mainly deal with skin therapy. It is their share of treating the most severe cases. Treatment of purulent wounds on the legs is in the same category. There are several stages of scarring:

Wet - usually this is the first stage immediately following tissue damage. Blood and lymph fluid oozes from the wound, and if it becomes infected, then pus. It is extremely important to clean the surface regularly at this stage.
Dry stage. The acute phase in this case is already behind, and pinkish films form on top.

If the process is successful, then scars appear instead of wounds. The process of healing large and deep wounds takes from six months to several years.

Characteristic signs

When purulent wounds appear, the patient may experience the following symptoms:

increased sweating;
poor appetite;
body weakness, chills;
heat;
headache and swelling;
affected areas of the skin change color;
when palpated, you can feel the heat of the skin;
the skin around the lesion turns red;
There is a pressing, throbbing or bursting pain.

Symptoms may manifest differently in different cases, with patients most often suffering from high fever and headache. The body devotes a lot of energy to fighting foreign bodies, so the patient may feel general weakness.

Antibiotics for purulent wounds

If there is some time to wait, then a series of tests are done to determine what kind of infection has entered the open wound. Based on this, we can draw a conclusion regarding which drug will be most effective. If there is no time and you urgently need to start treatment, then you have to prescribe broad-spectrum medications. Antibiotics for purulent wounds should be chosen only by the attending physician. Modern drugs can get any patient out of bed, because they defeat almost all pathogenic microflora.

In what cases should you consult a surgeon?

An abscess on the finger near the nail (the doctor will tell you how to treat and restore the skin) does not go away for a long time, first aid does not give positive results, then you need to visit a surgeon.

Also, you cannot delay seeking high-quality specialized medical care if:

your health has significantly deteriorated (weakness, lethargy, and fever have appeared);
a tugging or aching pain appeared in the damaged area;
the damaged finger is greatly enlarged in size (swollen or a tumor appears on it);
the skin around the abscess was noticeably red.

Also, professional help from a surgeon will be required when pus begins to actively accumulate under the nail (both in the subcutaneous tissue and under the nail fold).

The specialist will prescribe a series of tests and examinations that will help identify the type, stage and degree of development of the disease.

Diagnostics includes:

visual examination (drawing up a clinical picture);
patient interview (existing symptoms are determined);

An abscess on a finger near the nail. Before treating it yourself, you should consult a doctor.

material is collected for a smear (required to determine medications in the treatment program);
X-ray examination (the damaged limb is examined to exclude destruction of bone tissue);
Blood is taken for analysis (general). The number of leukocytes is determined, ESR indicators are recorded - this is required in order to identify the degree of intensity of the inflammatory reaction;

It is also recommended to undergo a diagnostic examination to rule out the presence of diabetes.

READ ALSO: Rash around the mouth of a child: causes of irritation and red spots, types of rashes, treatment

Main difficulties

Why not prescribe them to all patients, then you won’t even have to go to the hospital to prescribe treatment? The fact is that in addition to the indications, each of the drugs has a number of contraindications. Some patients will find it difficult to endure and drink the entire course of the prescribed medication. This is primarily due to the fact that it affects the liver and kidneys, and the organs of the digestive tract. Of course, when it comes to saving a life, you don’t have to choose. In this case, the doctor usually administers the drug using a dropper.

Various pathogens and groups of drugs

Healing purulent wounds requires extensive experience of medical personnel, time and often financial investments. The main pathogens are the following infections: Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. They are widespread, and therefore wound infection occurs in most cases. Especially if the body's immunity is weakened.

The listed bacteria have good sensitivity to the following groups of antibiotics:

Most often, treatment is with penicillin and its derivatives.
Cephalosprorins give good results, but side effects and contraindications must be taken into account.
Aminoglycosides.
Tetracyclines.

Causes of suppuration

Favorable conditions are considered to be the main reason for the development of the process:

extensive, deep skin lesions;
contamination of the wound with foreign bodies;
exhaustion;
diabetes;
contact with damaged skin areas of staphylococci, streptococci, and E. coli.

Sometimes wounds become infected with anaerobes, pneumococci, mycobacteria, and salmonella.

Direct effect on the wound

In the process of healing purulent wounds, not only systemic, but also local therapy is of great importance. Previously, surgeons tried to sprinkle wounds with powder containing an antibiotic. But the effectiveness of this method turned out to be low, so this practice was quickly abandoned. A much better effect was achieved by irrigating the wound with antiseptic solutions, as well as by applying an antibiotic gel.

Even when the wound becomes dry, it is necessary to continue treatment, that is, use ointments and creams with an anti-inflammatory effect. It is extremely important to prevent secondary suppuration. This often happens when, with a false impression of recovery, a person stops performing regular procedures. Of course, the results of his labors go to waste. Now we need to start all over again.

Measures to prevent periungual abscesses

To maintain the health of your skin and fingernails, there are a number of simple rules that will significantly reduce the risk of abscesses:

hygiene - regular, timely and thorough washing of hands and feet using antibacterial agents;
sterilization of instruments for manicure and pedicure;
giving up the bad habit of biting nails and biting fingers, especially in children who abuse this - the cuticle of the nail plate will remain intact, and bacteria will not enter the soft tissues, causing inflammation;
When cutting nails, avoid rounded corners on the side of the nail - the rectangular shape prevents the nail plate from growing into the skin;
Avoid damage and injury to your fingers; if cuts and scratches do occur, treat the wounds with disinfectants until they are completely healed.

In addition, we should not forget about the general principles of a healthy lifestyle: proper nutrition, giving up bad habits, taking vitamin complexes, playing sports - all this helps strengthen the immune system, and the body effectively resists the attack of viruses and microbes.

Antiseptic solutions

When choosing which ointment to treat a purulent wound on the leg, you must remember that the medicinal composition can only be applied to a clean surface. To prepare the wound, it is washed with special antiseptic solutions. These are furacillin and hydrogen peroxide, boric acid and some others. However, modern research shows their low antibacterial activity against most pathogens. In this regard, work began on the development and implementation of new antiseptic solutions. They were iodopirone and dioxidin. Surgeons use them to treat hands, and they are also great for wounds. Only the concentration changes. In the first case it is higher.

Treatment

Suppuration of the wound is caused by microorganisms and dirt particles. To avoid many complications, proper treatment of the damage will be required, which is carried out in a certain sequence.

The scar is treated every day during dressing. If the damage is not extensive and the discharge is light, therapy at home is allowed. Before starting the procedure, wash your hands.

Sterile bandage tissues and napkins are prepared. The scissors are disinfected using alcohol solutions.

Sequence of procedure:

The bandage is removed (if any);
The damage is washed with hydrogen peroxide;
The cavity is dried with sterile wipes;
The superficial wound is irrigated with an antiseptic (for the first time 3–4 days Furacilin, Miramistin);
The edges of the injury are treated with iodine or brilliant green;
An antibacterial medication is applied to the wound (on the 5th day after the injury, Levomekol ointment, Gentamicin).

If there are extensive abrasions and profuse purulent discharge, you must visit a medical facility.

Relieving inflammation

This is one of the most important tasks, because at this stage there is redness and swelling, the patient experiences severe pain, and a possible increase in temperature. Removing a large amount of pus is only possible by draining the wound.

In order for the procedure to be effective, tampons are moistened in special compounds. Treat with chlorhexidine and hydrogen peroxide, after which a tampon with 10% sodium chloride solution is applied. The bandage needs to be changed every five hours. Next you need to decide how to treat the purulent wound. At night, Levomikol or Levosin is distributed over the wound. They will ensure good swelling of the purulent contents from the inside. This is the most modern, safe and effective drug that helps quickly relieve inflammation and pain.

Symptoms of festering wounds

The main local signs of a purulent process are the presence of exudate of different colors in the wound, pain, local increase in temperature, redness and swelling around the wound. When infected, a large amount of toxins enters the body, which leads to the appearance of signs of intoxication at a later phase of the development of the disease.

Signs of a purulent process:

increased sweating;
loss of appetite, nausea;
weakness, fever;
migraine, fever;
pain in the affected area is of a pressing or bursting nature;
sometimes a rash appears on healthy areas of the skin that are located near the source of inflammation.

The presence of a purulent and inflammatory process helps to identify a clinical blood test - the ESR increases, the leukocyte formula shifts to the left.

Excessive sweating may indicate wound suppuration

What ointment to use

The abundance of medicines today is so great that it is sometimes difficult for a doctor to decide how to treat a purulent wound. But there are basic principles that modern surgeons follow. Thanks to numerous studies, Vishnevsky ointment and syntomycin emulsion, tetracycline and neomycin ointments can be considered the most effective today. However, such ointments do not ensure the outflow of wound secretions. Therefore, new formulas of hydrophilic ointments were developed. These are pulped acetate and many others. They contain antibiotics that easily transfer into the wound. Their activity exceeds the effect of a hypertonic solution by 15 times, and the effect lasts up to 24 hours.

Therapy of necrotic processes

Purulent wounds on the leg with diabetes are one of the most common complications, but this does not make treatment any easier. Therefore, to increase its effectiveness, necrolytic drugs are used. These are trypsin, chymopsin, terrilitin. They are needed to quickly remove dead tissue. But these medicinal solutions also have disadvantages. The enzymes in their composition remain active for no more than five hours, and it is impossible to change the dressings so often. Therefore, they began to be included in ointments. This is how a drug called “Iruksol” appeared, which contains the enzyme pentidase and the antiseptic chloramphenicol.

How to properly treat a wound?

Proper care of the affected area of skin is very important for faster healing and prevention of complications. In mild cases, you can do this yourself. Treatment of purulent wounds is carried out 1-2 times a day and includes:

— Thorough disinfection of hands and tools used for this is most often done with alcohol.

— Removing the old bandage. Moreover, this must be done extremely carefully, and when the bandage dries, it must be soaked with Chlorhexidine or hydrogen peroxide.

- Carefully remove pus from inside the wound, treat its edges with an antiseptic in the direction from it to the edges and dry with a sterile swab. Sometimes it is recommended to lubricate the edges of the wound with brilliant green or iodine.

— Applying a medicinal product or a napkin moistened with it. If the wound is very deep, tampons or drainage are inserted into it for better drainage of pus.

- Cover the wound with several layers of sterile gauze and secure it with an adhesive plaster or bandage. It is necessary to ensure that there is air access to the wound, otherwise an anaerobic infection may develop.

If the patient’s condition is serious, open purulent wounds are treated 3-4 times a day, each time leaving them in the air for 20-30 minutes.

Complex therapy

Even the most effective ointment for purulent wounds will not give the desired effect if used as monotherapy. Therefore, doctors most often prescribe a course of vitamins C and B, as well as antibiotics. Daily systems allow you to get the first results within a few days.

To treat damage and improve skin nutrition, methyluracil and solcoseryl ointment, as well as Trifodermin, are used. During the healing process, you need to regularly change the dressings, clean the wounds from microorganisms, dead tissue and foreign bodies.

Phases of development of the wound process

Features of the treatment of a purulent wound depend on the stage of its healing. Most often, there are two phases of the wound process:

- at the first stage it is necessary to eliminate swelling, remove dead tissue, and also eliminate hemorrhage and inflammation;

- at the second stage, tissue regeneration and scar formation occur. The healing of purulent wounds at this time can be accelerated by the use of special medications. Modern medications help to regenerate tissue faster without the formation of a very noticeable scar.

Looking for help from nature

Treatment of purulent wounds on the legs of older people often takes a long time. Daily dressings require large financial investments. However, there are simple and inexpensive remedies that can help. But there are several conditions here. It is very important that treatment begins at the earliest stages. Any folk remedy for a purulent wound has a limited degree of antibacterial effect, therefore, in advanced processes, it can only play a supporting role.

Abscess on the leg: what is it and what are its causes?

A pimple on the leg with redness around it - what could it be? There are several options and reasons why such ulcers appear. Let's look at them separately.

Furuncle

A furuncle on the leg, or boil, is a purulent formation that forms in the area of the hair follicle. The cause of its appearance, as noted earlier, is a staphylococcal or streptococcal infection. Its penetration into the underlying layers of the skin can be facilitated by numerous factors, ranging from wounds and scratches to dangerous diseases - AIDS, diabetes and others.

How do purulent acne appear on the legs? The boil does not form immediately, but some time after the penetration of the bacterial infection. First, redness appears in the affected area, possibly a slight burning sensation and itching. Then the inflamed area begins to hurt and “tug” from the inside. This is precisely the first signal that pus begins to accumulate in the hair follicle.

Abscess

An abscess on the leg in most cases is a complication of an untreated boil. This is a very painful and more dangerous disease, which is also caused by pathogenic microflora. Read more about abscesses at the link https://skinadvice.ru/abstsess.html

On a note. It is important to distinguish between the concepts of “boil” and “abscess”. Abscesses on the legs, which are boils, have a core and clearly defined boundaries. At the same time, elevated body temperature is not always observed. If it rises, then its values do not exceed 38 degrees. An abscess of the lower leg or other part of the leg is a diffuse purulent inflammation that does not have clear boundaries. The affected area also varies. With furunculosis, inflammation develops in the hair follicle, sebaceous and sweat glands. But with an abscess, the pathological process affects the soft tissues of the lower limb.

Carbuncle

Pus on the leg that has accumulated in the form of grouped boils is called a carbuncle. It has the same symptoms as boils, but is more difficult for patients to tolerate. It is usually treated surgically, but special ointments or folk remedies can be used to speed up the maturation of ulcers.

The most effective recipes

Chamomile. A simple and affordable remedy that can help in most cases. Leaves and seeds have pronounced antiseptic properties. There are two use cases. The first is to moisten a napkin in a decoction of herbs and apply it to the wound. In this case, you will have to change it often. The second method suggests applying a paste of plant leaves to the wound.
Onion. Almost everyone knows about its antiseptic properties. A solution of fresh onions is used for washing, and the baked scales are tied to the wounds while warm. This compress promotes rapid healing.
Propolis. An ointment is prepared from it, which has long been famous for its unique properties. To do this you will need a tablespoon of propolis tincture, the same amount of honey and butter.
Aloe. The plant, rich in bioactive compounds, promotes rapid cell regeneration. That is why it is the best remedy for healing purulent wounds. To do this, the leaves are crushed into a paste and applied to the wounds.

Treatment methods

To speed up the recovery process, purulent wounds need to be treated comprehensively. The therapy is aimed at:

elimination of pain;
cleansing the surface of purulent contents;
suppression of inflammation;
increasing the protective functions of the body;
acceleration of cell regeneration.

A conservative method of treating a purulent wound involves the use of traditional medicine recipes. As an independent therapy, the method is considered unacceptable. Native drugs are used to stimulate healing. If drug treatment does not produce results, surgery is performed to excise the necrotic tissue.

Hypertonic solution

The action of the product is based on the generally accepted laws of physics - osmotic pressure. Moistened gauze draws moisture from organic tissues, allowing serous contents to be removed.

Hypertonic solution for purulent wounds is a sorbent in the form of a concentrated liquid of sodium chloride and water, used for treatment.

The salt concentration in human blood plasma is 0.9%. This fact explains the use of an isotonic solution for diluting drugs. Hypertonic fluid is characterized by a concentration of 1 to 10 percent. For external use, use a 2% concentrate. The 10% product can be purchased at a pharmacy or prepared at home.

To prepare you need to add 3 tbsp. l. salt in 1 liter of hot water. After the crystals are completely dissolved, they should be cooled.

Treatment of purulent non-healing wounds with a hypertonic solution is carried out in 4 stages:

Moisten gauze, folded in 8 layers, with salty liquid.
Apply to the wound, securing the compress with a bandage. It is impossible to cover the pathological area with film.
Leave the compress on for 10-12 hours.
To achieve the effect, the course of treatment should be 7-10 days.

Local preparations

To treat purulent lesions, the doctor prescribes a local medication. In severe forms of the pathology, antibiotics are additionally taken. Drugs used:

Small affected areas are treated with liquid antiseptics with a drying effect - iodine, brilliant green, potassium permanganate solution, Miramistin. Powdered products are used - Furacilin, Baneocin, Xeroform.
Sintomycin ointment, Tetracycline are used in treatment if a purulent boil occurs on the mucous membrane or near the eye.
Enzyme-based products – Chymotrypsin, Streptokinase. The doctor prescribes it in the form of solutions for compresses. The components suppress the proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms.
At the first stage of wound treatment, ointments containing a water-soluble antibiotic - Levomekol, Levosin - are prescribed. The ointment is applied to the cavity using a cotton swab or used as a compress. Medicines draw out serous contents from the purulent cavity. Vishnevsky ointment and other outdated options are not used in the modern treatment of infectious and inflammatory lesions. The situation is due to the lack of water-soluble ability.
Fatty gels based on petroleum jelly - Methyluracil, Tetracycline ointment. Used at the final stage of treatment - the period of scarring.

Folk remedies

Traditional medicine methods can enhance the effect of conservative therapy, the action of which is aimed at cleansing a purulent wound. The remedies are aimed at relieving the inflammatory process and strengthening the immune system. Before starting the course, you should consult your doctor.

Traditional recipes for treatment:

A solution of chamomile in combination with celandine is a natural antiseptic for washing the purulent cavity. In a thermos, pour 20 g of dried flowers with a glass of boiling water. Leave to brew for 4-6 hours. The resulting broth should be filtered.
After treatment with an antiseptic, you can lubricate the damage with aloe juice. You must wait until the liquid is completely absorbed. The pathological area is covered with a bandage.
Treatment with plantain will help draw out pus from the wound. Clean leaves of the plant should be applied to the inflamed tissues, securing them with a bandage.
To obtain the cream, you need to beat aloe leaves and carrots in equal proportions in a blender. Add 1-2 tbsp. l. honey, melted butter. After applying the mixture, the area is covered with gauze. The compress is changed after 3-5 hours.