Which statement does NOT describe a dirty wound?

Which statement does NOT describe a dirty wound?

• A. Clean wound with no contamination
• B. Foreign bodies
• C. Fecal contamination
• D. Greater than 4 hours old

Answer: (A)

Wounds are grouped by how contaminated they are. A dirty wound is one with noticeable contamination or infection risk—think foreign material, fecal matter, devitalized tissue, pus, or a wound that's been open long enough to accumulate bacteria (often described as older than a few hours, such as four hours). These factors raise the likelihood of infection and guide management. Foreign bodies and fecal contamination are classic signs of a dirty wound because they introduce material that can harbor bacteria and delay healing. A wound older than four hours is included in this dirty/contaminated category due to higher bacterial burden and potential infection. The statement describing a clean wound with no contamination does not fit dirty wounds; it represents a clean wound with the lowest infection risk.

Wounds are grouped by how contaminated they are. A dirty wound is one with noticeable contamination or infection risk—think foreign material, fecal matter, devitalized tissue, pus, or a wound that's been open long enough to accumulate bacteria (often described as older than a few hours, such as four hours). These factors raise the likelihood of infection and guide management.

Foreign bodies and fecal contamination are classic signs of a dirty wound because they introduce material that can harbor bacteria and delay healing. A wound older than four hours is included in this dirty/contaminated category due to higher bacterial burden and potential infection.

The statement describing a clean wound with no contamination does not fit dirty wounds; it represents a clean wound with the lowest infection risk.