Abstract
Wound infections present a significant problem to clinicians and the wound care patients they treat. Wound infections are responsible for disrupting the normal healing process in both acute and chronic wounds, and they place the patient at risk for complications associated with infections. This article addresses the importance of identifying the specific pathogen causing the wound infection by using appropriate and accepted methods of obtaining wound cultures in order to treat the wound appropriately. This article also describes the cycle of wound infection, the effects of infection on wound healing, and the signs and symptoms of wound infection. In addition, a definition of bacterial colonization and infection is provided and treatment options are explored.