The nurse is collecting a specimen from an infected wound. From which

The nurse is collecting a specimen from an infected wound. From which portion of the wound should the specimen be collected?

1. Clean areas of granulation tissue
2. Exudate in the bottom of the wound
3. A pus-coated area on the side of the wound
4. Intact skin at the edge of the wound

ANSWER

Correct Answer: 1
Rationale 1: Microorganisms that are most likely to be responsible for wound infections live in viable tissue such as granulation tissue.
Rationale 2: Exudate contains a variety of components and will not give a good indication of what is causing the infection.
Rationale 3: Pus contains a variety of components and will not give a good indication of what is causing the infection.
Rationale 4: The skin at the edge of the wound contains skin organisms that may or may not be present in the wound itself.