Studies in the management of the contaminated wound. I. Optimal time for

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closure of contaminated open wounds. II. Comparison of resistance to infection of open and closed wounds during healing. Edlich RF. Rogers W. Kasper G. Kaufman D. Tsung MS. American Journal of Surgery. [JC:3z4] 117(3):323-9, 1969 Mar. - the optimal time for closure of contaminated wounds was on or after the fourth postoperative day; - 73% infection at 24 hrs; - 22% infection at 48 hrs; - 33% infection after 72 hrs; - during healing, primarily closed wounds and wounds udergoin delayed closure become increasingly resistant to infection; - from 24 to 124 hrs, the inflam response of the open wound to bacteria was sig greater than the response in the primarily closed wounds that were contaminated just after closure; - by the 7th day the inflammatory response to infection of the healing open and closed wounds were markedly reduced and did not differ from each other significantly; - idea: fluid accumulating in a closed clean wound has bactericidal prop;