What characterizes a clean-contaminated surgical wound?

• A. A wound with a high risk of infection
• B. A wound that is created during surgery involving the respiratory, gastrointestinal, or genitourinary tract
• C. A wound that shows immediate signs of infection
• D. A wound that is caused by traumatic injury

Answer: (B)

A clean-contaminated surgical wound is characterized by surgical procedures that involve the respiratory, gastrointestinal, or genitourinary tracts. These areas of the body are more prone to contain bacteria due to their natural flora, but when handled correctly in a sterile environment during surgery, the risk of infection is reduced.

Such wounds do not exhibit signs of infection immediately because they are typically part of planned surgical procedures. While they do have a higher risk of infection compared to clean wounds, proper handling can minimize this risk. The distinction here is that clean-contaminated wounds are not considered infected at the time of the procedure, and they do not originate from traumatic injuries, which would fall under a different category of surgical wounds.