How to Identify and Treat an Infected Cut

Most cuts heal quickly. However, if a cut becomes infected, it can lead to serious illness if left untreated.

Skin infections like strep or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) can start from the tiniest cuts. Even a little cut that doesn't need stitches can cause significant problems if it becomes infected and goes untreated. So, how can you tell if a cut is infected?

This article will help you understand when to seek help from a medical provider, what an infected cut looks like, and how to treat cuts at home.

When To See a Healthcare Provider

Certain cuts require contacting a healthcare provider for advice instead of attempting home treatment. These cuts have a higher risk of infection. In most instances, washing and covering the cut first is appropriate.

However, after the initial care, cuts where you should contact a healthcare provider include:

• Animal bites
• Human bites
• Cuts from a rough surface (e.g., a serrated knife)
• Cuts from dirty or rusty surface

If you were bitten, your healthcare provider will want to ensure the animal that bit you was fully vaccinated. If another person bit you, there is also the risk of infectious disease that your healthcare provider may want to monitor or treat prophylactically.

Additionally, if your cut is from a rusty or dirty surface, your healthcare provider may want to ensure you are up to date on your vaccines, such as tetanus. You may need a booster.

Specific individuals may be at a higher risk of developing an infection. If you have diabetes, are immunocompromised, or have another health condition that impacts your ability to fight infection, contact your healthcare provider for advice.

Signs of Infection

Some redness and swelling are part of the healing process and are expected. However, cuts that are not infected should begin healing quickly. There are several signs a cut is infected. Look for the following symptoms:

• Swelling around the injury, especially if it increases
• Redness around the injury that is expanding
• Red streaks by the injury
• Pain that worsens despite pain meds
• Pain beyond the initial area of injury
• Pus or blood draining from the injury
• Fever or swollen glands

If your cut or scrape is due to an animal bite or you cut yourself on a dirty or rusty object, contact your healthcare provider for advice. These types of injuries are more likely to become infected. Also, your provider will want to ensure that if an animal bites you, they are up to date on their vaccines, such as rabies.

If you scraped yourself on a rusty or dirty object, it is important to ensure your vaccines, such as tetanus, are up to date. Your provider can provide information on whether or not additional care, such as antibiotics or vaccines, is needed.

How to Treat an Infected Cut at Home

Minor infected cuts may be treated at home. However, if you have any of the following risk factors that make you more likely to experience complications from an infected cut, contact your healthcare provider prior to attempting home treatment. Conditions that can make you more susceptible to severe infection include:

• Diabetes
• Older age
• Circulation issues
• Immune system conditions, such as HIV
• Weakened immune system, e.g., from chemotherapy
• Mobility challenges
• Malnourishment
• Skin folds

If you are otherwise healthy, you can try the following:

• Warm soaks or placing a warm washcloth around the injury several times a day for 10 minutes
• Using an over-the-counter antibiotic ointment
• Covering the injury with a bandaid
• Pain medication such as acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol) or ibuprofen (e.g., Advil)

Some initial redness and swelling are expected. However, if symptoms persist or worsen over several days despite home treatment, you may need to contact your healthcare provider.

Will an Infected Cut Heal on Its Own?

Whether an infected cut can heal on its own depends on your overall health, the severity of the cut, and the surface that caused the cut. For example, a shallow cut made with a generally clean kitchen knife while cutting fruits or vegetables is less likely to become infected than a scrape from a rusty, old piece of metal.

If an infected cut is left alone without treatment, complications may develop.

Complications

In most cases, healthcare providers will prescribe antibiotics to fight the infection. Untreated, infected wounds can become serious. They may develop into cellulitis or an abscess. Rarely can they lead to sepsis or necrotizing fasciitis.

Cellulitis

Cellulitis is an infection deeper in the skin. If you develop cellulitis, you will need antibiotics. If not treated, cellulitis can lead to more severe infections if the bacteria infect your bloodstream, heart, bones, or joints.

Abscesses

Abscesses are pockets of pus. Your healthcare provider may need to drain the abscess to help it heal. Depending on how well they can drain and clean the wound, they may or may not prescribe antibiotics. If an abscess is left untreated, it can lead to a systemic infection.

Systemic Infection

If an infected cut leads to a systemic (full-body) infection, you may feel as though you have a bad case of the flu. Symptoms may include:

• Fever
• Chills and body aches
• Clammy and sweaty skin
• Confusion
• Trouble breathing

Seek medical care if you believe you have developed a systemic infection from a cut. Sepsis is an extreme reaction to an infection and requires immediate care.

Necrotizing Fasciitis

Another rare complication that also requires immediate care is necrotizing fasciitis. This complication can lead to limb loss and significant scarring from removing the infected tissue. Early symptoms of necrotizing fasciitis include severe pain beyond the initial injury, a fever, and redness and swelling that spread quickly.

Medical Treatment

Treatment will depend on the extent of the infection. A healthcare provider may prescribe oral, IV, or injected antibiotics depending on the severity of the infection.

They may or may not collect cultures to determine which organism is causing the infection. Some antibiotics are considered broad-spectrum and work against several bacteria, while some are more specific.

If your provider prescribes oral antibiotics, follow the instructions on the label and take all of the medication as prescribed. Even if your infection improves after a couple of days, it is essential to complete the entire prescription. Not taking all of the medication as prescribed can lead to antibiotic resistance and a more challenging infection to treat.

In the case of an abscess, a healthcare provider will likely drain and cover it. They may pack it, too.

Additional treatment may be necessary if you have a condition that makes you more susceptible to a worse infection, such as diabetes.

Prevention

To avoid an infected cut, it's important to wash the initial injury and keep cuts clean as they heal. Most of the time, soap and water are all you need. Antibiotic ointments, such as Polysporin, usually aren't necessary.

Covering the injury with an adhesive bandage can also help keep the injury clean. Ensure you change the bandage daily or whenever it gets wet or dirty.

Summary

In most cases, cuts and scrapes heal on their own with basic home care such as cleaning and bandages. However, if your cut develops signs of an infection, especially if you have an underlying medical condition, seek the advice of your healthcare provider.