Infection prevention in wounds Wash the wound with soap and water straight away. Apply a tiny dose of antibiotic ointment to the affected area. Bandages or gauze dressings should be used to cover wounds. For the first 24 hours, keep the wound clean and dry. Before and after you care for your wound, wash your hands. This helps prevent spread of bacteria to other parts of the body. Wounds are areas of skin and tissue that are damaged by disease, injury, or invasive procedures (such as surgery). Wound healing is the process by which injured tissues repair themselves. It consists of three basic phases: inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling. Infections that do not respond to antibiotics may require surgical intervention to remove infected tissue or perform another procedure to allow antibiotics to reach underlying bone or muscle tissue. Wounds can occur anywhere on the body, but some are more prone to infection than others. For example, open wounds such as cuts and abrasions, while still fresh, provide an opportunity for bacteria to enter the body and cause infection. However, even healthy-looking skin can become infected if it is not treated promptly after an injury. The same thing holds true for patients who are suffering from diseases that weaken their immune systems such as AIDS or cancer. In these cases, wounds can easily become infected because the body's natural defenses are reduced. The most effective way to prevent infections is to avoid them altogether.