Cut on leg infected

[anonjun06]

While playing football on astroturf on Thursday night, I was pushed over and skidded along on my knee, causing a cut/graze just under the knee. It bled a bit at the time, but I carried on and when the match was finished just cleaned the wound with an alcohol wipe and covered it up. Yesterday my fiance noticed that there were still bits of sand in the wound so I cleaned it again and put another plaster on it.

However, 2 days later, its still quite sore, and is yellow puss surrounded by redness. When I took the plaster off about 30 minutes ago that I'd put on this morning, it was soaked with this puss.

Should I see a doctor about this? It doesn't seem to be swollen, but as I say it is very sore.

[Misty800]

Sounds like you have an infection. Are you running a fever? Is the area around the injury hot to touch?

The injury should be cleaned good and an antibiotic applied. If you have fever, you probably need an oral antibiotic.

Misty
Not a medical professional, speaking from experience only.

[anonjun06]

Thanks Misty.

I've not got a fever (as far as I know, will find a thermometer in a minute). I've got a very bad ear ache, keep getting sharp stabbing pains, though can't see that being in any way connected.

Its smelling a little funny, which is slightly concerning. How urgently should I see a doctor? Would it be ok to wait until Monday when they open, or should I go to see an out of hours doctor?

[Amnia]

If the bandage was soaked with pus, I would suggest going to an emergency room. they will clean it with normal saline, possibly under pressure to get rid of the sand (debridement), and put a dressing on it. more than likely, even without a fever, you will get a prescription for an antibiotic. If you are not allergic to penicillin, you will probably get a prescription for either Augmentin (amoxicillin + clavulanic acid) if you have to only pay a co-pay for medications, or cephalexin (Keflex) if you have to pay full price.

They will also suggest that if you have any pain you can take either acetaminophen (tylenol) or ibuprofen (advil, motrin) which you can get over-the-counter (that means without a prescription you can just buy them). then they will tell you to keep the bandage clean and dry, change the bandage once a day or if it gets wet or dirty (you can ask for bandaging supplies and if the nurse likes you she will give you a bunch and tell you to keep quiet), and follow up with your doctor in 3-5 days.

most often these types of infections are a mixture of staph and strep. there is a very small chance the bacteria can enter the bloodstream (called bacteremia), travel to the heart, and seed the heart valves (this is called endocarditis). usually but not always, bacteria in the bloodstream causes a fever, which is why the person who replied above told you to get an antibiotic if you had a fever.

[anonjun06]

Thanks Amnia.

I'm actually allergic to most of the things you mentioned above Last time I took Ibruprofen I ended up rushing to hospital thinking I had meningitis (I had the rash, stiff neck, headache etc.). Incidentally they forgot I was there and left me sitting for about an hour before I went back to the reception.

I'm actually in the UK and have phoned NHS Direct who offer advice on this sort of thing, I'm currently waiting for a nurse to phone me back. From experience they'll probably phone back at about 3am.