Infected cut on hand

[Le_Roi_De_Rois]

About 4 weeks ago I got small a cut on the side of my left hand. The cut is about 1/4 inch and starts about 1/4 inch from the start of my pinky. I'm not quite sure how it happened. I started cleaning the are with Hydrogen Peroxide and applying Neosporin (+pain cream) with Bandaid Clear. I noticed it wasn't healing normally and I started to see little bumps around the area. I noticed that when I didn't use the Bandaid, I didn't get as many bumps and it seemed to itch less. I did some looking and found it could be an allergic reaction, so I switched bandages. About 3 weeks in I noticed it still wasn't healing and went to the local walk-in facility and got put on Bacterin DS and Mupirocin. I started to use sterile non-stick gauze instead of the bandages at this time. I've finished the Antibiotic treatment and the cut still seems like it's not healing properly. I've also started to see these same little bumps (3 or so), that had shown up around the cut, appear on palm and fingers of the same hand.

I have been keeping the area covered as much as possible applying bandages when sleeping or at work and keeping it off with just the ointment at other times.

How long will this wound take to heal (now that the infection has been treated)?
Should I continue keeping it covered as I have been?
Are these new bumps something to worry about?

[Le_Roi_De_Rois]

Thanks. I had gone to see a physician at the 24hr place since I was concerned about this so it was seen by a professional. The physician there put me on the prescriptions but they didn't seem to be working and I had no idea I'd be allergic to the prescription ointment as well. I posted the question on here hoping to get some input before I went to my physician.

I saw my physician and filled in the blanks so it was determined I was allergic to the ointments and stopped. The new bumps were the major concern since I knew all the infected cut needs is time and antibiotics. The bumps appeared on both hands only after the cut and hadn't gone away.

We're going to see if the bumps go away now that I've stopped what causes the allergic reaction. She took cultures as well.

I'll post updates when I get them.

[Le_Roi_De_Rois]

Thanks. I believe it was the Neosporin as well. It also seems like the Mupirocin caused an allergic reaction as well. I always get the latex free even though I'm not allergic to latex. I don't remember having an allergic reaction to Bandaid or other brands in the past. I had come across some posts in forums that suggested that to be a possible cause so I removed all that could cause this.

I got to my physician (had gone to 24hr place) and filled in the details. I stopped the ointment and am on a second cycle of the Bacterin DS since I'm keeping it uncovered. She took some cultures and sent them off to the lab to see if we can figure it out or if I need to go to the dermatologist.

[Le_Roi_De_Rois]

Thanks. I believe it's 2 issues as well.

I had seen a physician otherwise I wouldn't have been able to get the Muprocin or the Bacterin DS (those are prescriptions). The issue was that I went to the walkin doctor closest and what was prescribed didn't seem to be working so I posted here to see what other input there was.

I got to my physician and filled in the details. I stopped the ointment and am on a second cycle of the Bacterin DS since I'm keeping it uncovered. She took some cultures and sent them off to the lab to see if we can figure it out or if I need to go to the dermatologist.

[jackie722]

get it seen too. (if not healing).. U never know what type of bacteria has made its way into the wound....and into the blood...

You should keep it dry...so it can heal...

[caregiver222]

You need to see a physician for an in-person evaluation. You have two issues. The wound itself, and the possible reaction to the topical antibiotics. It is not going to heal and you may require oral antibiotics, intravenous antibiotics or surgical debridement. Vaseline is contraindicated. In a worse-case scenario, if the infection gets into the bloodstream it may travel and settle on the heart valve, which then cause debri to be thrown that will cause a stroke. The bad news bears. One must remember that for thousands of years our life-spans were very short because people died from wounds we consider to be insignificant today. Stop fooling around with this.

[bery120]

Hello Le Roi De Roi. I think you may be allergic to neosporin or something in it. This happened to me when I got cut open by metal and had to have stitches. I was putting neosporin on it and it didn't seem to be healing and there were little bumps around the incision. I went back to the doctor and he came to the conclusion I was allergic to neosporin and he told me to use vaseline on my cut instead of neosporin and see if that worked. After a couple days of applying the vaseline my stitches were ready to come out. My mom had always used neosporin on us when we were kids but I guess over the years I became allergic to something they put in it. Try vaseline instead and see if that helps. Also you could try using latex free bandaids as you may be allergic to latex. Hope this helps!