Pus is a cloudy liquid that occurs as a result of serous-purulent or purulent inflammation. In fact, pus is shattered white blood cellswho have completed their life cycle.
Suppuration - This is the process of pus formation.
Pus consists of the following components:
- Serum. It contains globulins, albumin, lipolytic and glycolytic enzymes, an admixture of DNA, fats, lecithin, cholesterol.
- Tissue detritus. It is represented by dead matter.
- Cells of degenerated or living microorganisms, neutrophilic white blood cells.
In some cases, pus may include mononuclear cells and eosinophils.
The color of pus depends on the causes of its occurrence. It can be green, gray, yellow, green-yellow and even bluish. Fresh pus is much thicker than old. Most often, the smell of pus is not strong, only a little specific, but when putrefactive inflammation occurs, its smell can become very strong. The localization of the inflammatory process, the pathogen, the degree of tissue damage, communication with the hollow organs determines the consistency, color and smell of pus, which are different for each particular case.
Microorganisms that caused the development of suppuration can almost always be detected in pus. Pyogenic bacteria are usually the cause of the development of such a process. These bacteria include intestinal pabed, anaerobic clostridia, streptococci, gonococci, staphylococci, meningococci etc. In this case, the process of pus formation can be the result of activity in the tissues and organs of other bacteria, for example candida, salmonella, pneumococcus, mycobacteria etc. In this case, there may be cases when microorganisms in pus are not detected. This situation is associated either with the destruction of bacteria by enzymes, or with a non-microbial cause of suppuration.
Pus is subject to mandatory research, like blood, urine and other body fluids, especially with large accumulations in the cavities. In cases when accumulations of pus are in open cavities, the fence is taken from the depth of the focus, when in closed cavities it is made puncture. The study of the obtained material is carried out immediately after collection to prevent possible decomposition of microorganisms by enzymes that are part of the pus, that is, in order to avoid the process of lysis.
In the event of purulent wounds, their treatment must be carried out by special methods that avoid sepsis - an extremely serious condition in which microorganisms enter the bloodstream. To prevent complications, the outflow of pus from the wounds is ensured by various antiseptic ways (catheters, special swabs, etc.). In some cases, wounds are washed with special means.
