The Bluebells Study Group reported a questionnaire that a patient can complete to describe a surgical wound after hospital discharge. This identifies certain findings associated with surgical site infections.
Patient selection: status post surgery with primary wound closed at discharge
Items with 4 possible responses:
(1) redness spreading away from wound
(2) area around the wound warmer than adjacent skin
(3) any leakage of clear liquid from the wound
(4) any leakage of blood-stained fluid from the wound
(5) any leakage of thick and yellow/green fluid
(6a) any separation of wound edges on its own
(6b) any separation of deeper tissue on own
(7) area around wound swollen
(8) wound smelly
(9) wound painful to touch
(10) any fever or raised temperature (> 38°C)
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Response
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not at all
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a little
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quite a bit
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a lot
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Items with a binary response (Yes or No):
(1) sought advice because of a problem with wound (excluding planned follow-up)
(2) need to place anything to cover the wound
(3) back in the hospital because of a problem with the wound
(4) given antibiotics for a problem with the wound
(5) the wound edges have been deliberately separated by a nurse or doctor
(6) the wound has been scraped or cut to remove unwanted tissue
(7) the wound has been drained of pus
(8) operated under general anesthesia for a treatment of a wound problem
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Response
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Points
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No
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0
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Yes
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1
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Interpretation:
• A greater number of positive responses indicates a high likelihood of a surgical site infection.
