CDC’s Project Firstline Infection Control Micro-Learns: Draining Wound

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Access to practical and valuable infection control training is crucial for all healthcare workers.

That’s why CDC’s Project Firstline developed Infection Control Micro-Learns – a series of guided infection control discussions that can be easily incorporated into team meetings or huddles facilitated by an experienced team member with infection control expertise.

These short and easy-to-understand learning opportunities can help healthcare workers recognize and minimize infection control risks to protect themselves, coworkers, and patients from infectious diseases.

Let’s explore the Infection Control Micro-Learn on Draining Wounds.

What Should You Do When You See a Patient with a Draining Wound?

A draining wound is a break in the skin or other tissue that has liquid coming out of it.

This liquid moves and spreads easily, so draining wounds must be handled carefully to keep germs from spreading and to protect the patient from germs.

Always assume the liquid in a draining wound is infectious, even if the drainage is clear.

Draining wounds can be caused by or contain a variety of germs – such as MRSA, group A strep, Klebsiella, VRE, HIV, and hepatitis B and C – so it’s important not to touch the liquid or the wound if you don’t have to.

If you must touch anywhere near the wound, or anything that could have been contaminated by liquid from the wound, clean your hands and use gloves.

Depending on the situation, you might need other personal protective equipment (PPE), like a gown or eye protection, to protect yourself.

It is often best to cover the wound to contain the drainage and protect the open tissue.

However, in rare situations, wounds should not be covered. Consult with the clinical team before covering a draining wound.

Preparing for Draining Wounds

You can further prepare yourself for draining wounds by knowing who to contact about wound care and relevant facility protocols, such as where to find PPE and wound care supplies.

You can also familiarize yourself with recent cases or examples of patients with draining wounds.

Access the Draining Wound Micro-Learn, along with a growing list of other training topics, on the Project Firstline website. Stay tuned for more topics in the coming months!

What Can You Do to Promote Infection Control in Your Healthcare Setting?

Help keep yourself, your colleagues, and your patients safe from infectious disease threats by building on your infection control knowledge!

To show your dedication, sign this pledge to complete an infection control training or activity through CDC’s Project Firstline!

pLedge to take the training!

You can also share infection control training opportunities with healthcare colleagues via LinkedIn with our Project Firstline social media toolkit.

use the toolkit!

You can access more information about infection prevention and control in healthcare by visiting resources from CDC Project Firstline.

Salud America! at UT Health San Antonio is working with the National Hispanic Medical Association to bring Project Firstline infection control educational content to healthcare workers, so they are equipped with the knowledge they need to protect themselves, their facilities, and their patients (Latinos and all communities) from infectious disease threats in healthcare settings.

Check out some of the articles from this partnership:

• What is Project Firstline?
• What is the Goal of Infection Prevention and Control in Healthcare Settings?
• What’s a Virus?
• What is Ventilation and Why Does It Matter?
• Contact Time: What is It and How Does it Impact Infection Control?
• The Surprising Difference Between Cleaning and Disinfection
• What’s a Respiratory Droplet and Why Does It Matter?
• We Need to Talk about Hand Hygiene Again
• Why are Gowns, Gloves, and Eye Protection Recommended for COVID-19?

Check out some of the Latino healthcare workers who are heroes for infection control:

• Anna Valdez: Tackling Infection Control with Education from Classroom to Clinic
• Wanda Montalvo: Preventing Infections in Community Health Centers, Latino Communities
• Ricardo Correa: Endocrinologist and Infection Control Leader for the Latino Community

Learn More about Project Firstline!

Editor’s Note: This article is part of a collaboration between Salud America!, the National Hispanic Medical Association, and the CDC’s Project Firstline. To find resources training materials, and other tools to bolster knowledge and practice of infection control, visit Project Firstline and view Salud America!’s infection control content.