PREOPERATIVE CLINICAL EVALUATION OF THE SURGICAL PATIENT WITH POTENTIAL OR APPARENT INFECTION

Because of the type of patient treated, and the nature of the injury, the veterinarian is often called upon to treat surgical infections. These infections may be primary, or can be sequelae or trauma or elective surgery. Each clinician has his own protocol and priorities in evaluation of the patient with a surgical infection. A careful history and physical examination, together with clinical and microbiological laboratory testing procedures will help identify the pathogenic organism and indicate the severity of the infection in the animal patient. With this preliminary evaluation, the clinician and surgeon may attack the problem appropriately, and with a greater assurance of success.