skin disorders
Pressure Sores
Complications of Pressure Sores
Bacterial infection is the most common complication of pressure sores. If pressure sores become infected, they may have an unpleasant odor. Pus may be visible in or around the sore. The area around the sore may become red or feel warm, and pain may worsen if the infection spreads to the surrounding skin and tissues beneath the skin. Some people may have a fever. Infection delays healing of shallow sores and can be life threatening in deeper sores. Infection in pressure sores that do not heal may cause Cellulitis and sinus tracts to form. Cellulitis is a spreading bacterial infection of the skin and the tissues immediately beneath the skin. Sinus tracts are passages that connect the infected area of the skin surface or the sore to other structures, such as those deep in the body. For example, a sinus tract from a pressure sore near the pelvis can connect to the bowel (this abnormal connection is called a fistula). Infection can even penetrate the bone ( In some severe cases, infection can spread into the bloodstream ( Bacteremia ), causing fever or shaking chills, and later can spread to the brain ( 