Table 2.

Clinical signs and symptoms of infection according to suggested criteria

Clinical signs & symptoms	Cutting & Harding 19946	Gardner 200142	Cutting & White 20047	Sibbald, 20079	WUWHS, 20083	Wounds Australia 201110
	2 experts	Cross‐sectional study	54 experts	3 experts	13 experts—international consensus	National consensus
Ulcer‐related pain	Yes, unexpected pain/tenderness	Yes, increasing pain in the ulcer areaa	Yes, change in the nature of pain	No	Yes, new, increased or altered paina	Yes, increased pain/unexpected pain
Malodour	Yes	Yesa	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Increase in wound size	No	Yes, 4 weeks period: no change or an increased in the ulcer size	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Purulent exudate	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes
Wound breakdown	Yes	Yesa	No	Yes	Yesa	Yes
Delayed/non‐healing	Yes, delayed healing	Yes	No	Yes	Yesa	No
Increased exudate levels	No		Yes	Yes		No
Erythema	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Bridging of the epithelium or soft tissue	Yes		No	No	Yes	Yes
Pocketing at base of a wound	Yes	Yes		No	Yes	Yes
Discolouration of granulation tissue	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
Friable granulation tissue	No	Yesa	No	Yes	Yes	No
Increased local temperature	No	Yes, within 4 cm from the ulcer margin	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Oedema	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes, peri‐wound oedema	Yes, localised to peri‐wound tissue
Cellulitis	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No
Abscess	Yes	No	No	No	No	No
Palpable crepitus from gas in soft tissue	No	No	Yes, for arterial leg ulcers	No	Yes	No
Slough or necrotic tissue on the wound surface	No	No	No	Yes	No	No
Induration	No	No	No	No	Yes	No

^aHighly indicative of infection.