Which exudate color indicates abnormal leakage in wound drainage?

• A. Clear
• B. Green
• C. Yellow
• D. Brown

Answer: (B)

Color of wound drainage tells you a lot about what’s happening in the wound. Clear drainage is usually a normal, watery fluid that appears during healing. Green drainage indicates abnormal leakage because it’s commonly purulent, reflecting infection with bacteria and the immune response producing thick, opaque material. The green color is often linked to bacteria like Pseudomonas and is frequently accompanied by a stronger odor or increased inflammation, signaling that the wound isn’t simply healing and may need closer assessment and potential intervention. Yellow drainage can also be abnormal if it’s purulent or represent slough tissue, but it doesn’t point as specifically to infection as green does. Brown drainage typically suggests dried blood or necrotic matter rather than active infection. So, green stands out as a sign of infection-related purulence, marking abnormal leakage in wound drainage.