How to Treat an Infected Burn

Getting Medical Treatment

Visit a doctor. If you believe your burn is infected, see your doctor immediately for treatment. They will prescribe you medication and give you instructions to care for the wound at home. If the doctor determines that the infection is severe, you may need treatment at a hospital. Signs that the burn is infected include: Fever Increased pain Redness and swelling Drainage of pus from the wound A red streak around the burn area If you see signs of infection, get medical care right away. An infection can develop into a serious, and sometimes life-threatening, condition.

Get a wound culture to diagnose the infection. The type of bacteria, fungus, or virus infecting your wound determines your course of treatment. Your doctor may swab the wound and send the sample to the lab to get a wound culture. This will allow them to the organism causing the infection and determine the best antibiotic to prescribe. Your doctor is more likely to order this test if your infection is severe or chronic, or to evaluate the current course of treatment.

Apply a prescription ointment. Most burns are treated with topical creams or gels that are applied directly to the wound. Which medication you use depends on what type of bacteria, fungus, or virus is infecting your wound, but common ones include Silvadene cream, mafenide acetate, and silver sulfadiazine. You shouldn’t use silver sulfadiazine if you have an allergy to sulfa. In that case, bacitracin-zinc ointment is a possible alternative. Oral medication, such as pills, are rarely prescribed for burns. Instead, you will apply the cream to the infection once or twice a day.

Cover the wound in a silver dressing. Silver helps prevent the spread of infection, reduces inflammation, and has antibacterial properties. While your doctor may prescribe a cream with silver in it, you may also be given dressings made with silver, such as ACTICOAT, to cover your wound under the care of a wound specialist. This dressing should be changed every three to seven days. Closely follow all of your wound specialist’s instructions for applying and removing the dressing.

Caring for the Burn at Home

Keep the wound clean. It’s important to keep your burn wound clean, whether or not it’s infected. If it does become infected, however, you should closely follow your doctor’s advice on how to care for and clean the wound. This may or may not include washing or soaking the wound with water. If your wound is infected and open, your doctor may ask you to soak it in warm salt water for 20 minutes, two to three times per day. You might also press a warm, wet cloth on the wound. Use warm salt water with 2 tablespoons (29.6 ml) of salt per quart of water. If you use a washcloth on an infected wound, be sure that it is sterilized before and after. Alternatively, you can use a sterile disposable cloth. Hydrotherapy is sometimes used in rehabilitation to treat wounds that are already healed, or a bit further along in healing. Your doctor might not advise using this treatment, though, as it’s controversial. It may also be risky due to pathogens in the water that could worsen any infection.

Apply honey to the wound. Honey may be able to provide relief by speeding up the healing of the wound, killing bacteria, and reducing swelling. Ask your doctor if you can use honey in addition to your medical treatments.

Use prescription ointment only. If you were given a prescription for your infection, apply it to the infection according to the label's instructions. Unless approved by your doctor, avoid using over-the-counter antibiotic creams. Any antibiotics that you use on the infection must be specific to the bacteria infecting your wound.

Avoid activities that irritate the wound. Depending on the severity and location of the burn, your activities may be limited. Avoid any activities that cause the burn to hurt or that might apply pressure to the wound. For example, if the infected burn is on your hand, avoid activities that use that hand, such as typing or grabbing objects. Use your other hand instead.

Take a painkiller. If the infected area hurts, you can use an over-the-counter painkiller such as acetaminophen. For severe pain, your doctor may prescribe you a stronger prescription medication. Do not use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDS), such as ibuprofen, as these might slow healing of the infection.

Reducing the Risk of Complications

Get immediate medical help if your condition worsens. Fever, vomiting, and dizziness are all symptoms of blood poisoning and toxic shock syndrome, both of which can be deadly. Call for emergency help immediately if you notice these symptoms.

Get a tetanus booster. Tetanus (often called “lockjaw”) is a very serious infection that causes progressive muscle spasms. It can be fatal if untreated. While tetanus usually enters the body through deeper puncture wounds, any break in the skin can put you at risk. Check with your doctor to see if your tetanus vaccination is up to date, and whether you need a booster shot. If you had a primary tetanus immunization in the past and the wound is clean, the doctor may still recommend a booster if your last booster shot was more than 10 years ago. If the wound is dirty or tetanus-prone, you should get a booster if haven’t had one in the last 5 years. If you never had a primary tetanus immunization, your doctor will want to give you the first vaccine dose. You’ll need to return in 4 weeks and again in 6 months to finish the series. If you can’t remember when you had your last booster shot, it’s best to be cautious and get one.

Undergo physical therapy. If the infected wound limits your movement, your doctor may recommend physical therapy. The physical therapy will teach you to move and exercise in ways that reduce pain and scarring. This can help increase your range of motion after the infection heals.

Avoid breaking blisters and scabs. Blisters and scabs may develop on healing burns and infections. Avoid breaking, picking at, or bursting these blisters. Apply an antibacterial ointment to them, and apply a dry dressing over them.

Ask your doctor before using moisturizers on the wound. Many people apply aloe and calendula gels to burns to reduce scarring, but these should not be used if an infection develops. They may irritate or worsen the infection. Once the infection is gone, ask your doctor if it is safe to start using these on your wound. Many moisturizers contain stabilizers or preservatives that can damage your skin.