… For example, some hydrocolloid and alginate dressings may result in wound drainage that mimics purulent exudate (Bates-Jensen & Ovington, 2007). 144 Table 7: Types of wound exudate (Cutting & White, 2002; Bates-Jensen et al, 2012; Wounds UK, 2013; Vowden et al, 2015) Type Colour/opacity Consistency Comments Serous Clear, amber Thin, watery ■ Normal during inflammatory and proliferative phases of healing or straw- ■ An increase in serous exudate may be a sign of infection coloured ■ In excessive amounts may be associated with congestive cardiac failure, venous disease, malnutrition or be due to fluid draining from a urinary or lymphatic fistula Serosanguineous Clear, pink to Thin, slightly ■ May be considered normal during inflammatory and proliferative phases light red thicker than of healing water ■ Pinkish due to the presence of red blood cells ■ May also be found post-operatively or after traumatic dressing removal Sanguineous Red Thin, watery ■ Reddish due to the presence of red blood cells ■ May indicate new blood vessel growth or disruption of blood vessels ■ May be associated with hypergranulation Seropurulent Cloudy, Thin ■ Serous exudate containing pus creamy, yellow ■ May also be due to liquefying necrotic tissue or tan ■ May signal impending infection Fibrinous Cloudy Thin, watery ■ Cloudy due to the presence of fibrin strands ■ May indicate inflammation, with or without infection Purulent Opaque, Often thick ■ Mainly pus (neutrophils, inflammatory cells, bacteria) and may include milky, yellow, slough/liquefied necrotic tissue tan or brown; ■ Indicates infection sometimes ■ Green colouration may be due to infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa green ■ May be associated with odour Haemopurulent Reddish, milky, Thick ■ Mixture of blood and pus opaque ■ Often due to established infection Haemorrhagic Red, opaque Thick ■ Mostly due to the presence of red blood cells and indicative of increased capillary friability or trauma to the wound ■ May indicate bacterial infection 155 W O R L D U N I O N O F W O U N D H E A L I N G S O C I E T I E S CONSENSUS DOCUMENT Table 8: Clinical methods of assessment of wound exudate production Method Details Wound Extent of control Exudate amount Dressing requirement exudate score Wound Exudate Score 1 Full None/minimal No absorptive dressings required. … Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer: 215–33 Cutting KF, White R (2002) Maceration of the skin and wound bed: its nature and causes. J Wound Care 11(7): 275–8 Bates-Jensen BM, Schultz G, Ovington LG (2012) Management of exudate, biofilms, and infection. …