How to recognise an infection?
There are many signs that indicate a microbial imbalance is present. Often described in the literature as overt or covert symptoms such as: pain, heat, erythema, odour,…
How do you know the ones to use? How do you identify them in the wounds?
A panel of wound experts from seven European countries has proposed an easy-to-use clinical score, the TILI Score⁽²⁾⁽³⁾, for the early detection of local wound infections as basis for an antimicrobial treatment decision⁽¹⁾.
6 indicative parameters have been identified⁽²⁾⁽³⁾:
Local infection is present when you have at least 5 of these 6 indicative parameters present.
DID YOU KNOW?
In addition to the above criteria, local antimicrobial treatment can also be justified if one or more of the following criteria are present
*Caution should be taken in patients with polyneuropathy or using painkillers.
** This can vary between countries, for example, the detection of multidrug-resistant organisms such as meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
1. Sibbald RG, Woo K, Ayello E et al. Increased bacterial burden and infection: NERDS and STONES. Wounds UK. 2007; 3(2):25-46.
2. J Dissemond, V Gerber, R Lobmann, A Kramer, D Mastronicola, E Senneville, C Moisan, V Edwards-Jones, K Mahoney, A Junka, M Bartoszewicz, J Verdú-Soriano, R Strohal. Therapeutic index for local infections score (TILI): a new diagnostic tool. Journal Wound Care. Dec 2020.29 ;12.
3. J Dissemond, R Strohal, D Mastronicola, E Senneville, C Moisan, V Edwards-Jones, K Mahoney, A Junka, M Bartoszewicz, J Verdú-Soriano. Therapeutic Index for Local Infections score validity: a retrospective European analysis. Journal Wound Care. Dec 2020.29 ;12.