After surgery · Wound care
Is My Surgical Wound Infected?
Some redness and discomfort early on is normal healing. Tick your symptoms to see whether it looks fine, or whether to get it checked — today or urgently.
Frequently asked questions
What are the signs of a wound infection after surgery?
The main signs are spreading redness around the wound, increasing pain, swelling or warmth, pus or cloudy fluid leaking out, a bad smell, the wound edges opening, and feeling generally unwell or feverish. A little redness right at the edges and mild discomfort in the first few days can be normal healing — it's change for the worse, spreading, or pus that points to infection.
When should I contact someone about my wound?
Contact your surgical team, GP or community nurse the same day if you notice spreading redness, increasing pain, pus, a bad smell, or the wound opening. Seek urgent help if you also have a fever, feel very unwell or shivery, or the redness is spreading quickly — these can mean the infection is getting into deeper tissue.
Are wound infections after surgery serious?
Most are minor and clear up quickly with the right care — sometimes just cleaning and dressing, sometimes a course of antibiotics. Caught early they're straightforward. Left too long they can spread, so it's always better to get a wound checked sooner rather than waiting to see if it settles.