Wound Infections
Wound infections are when bacteria is found in a wound, and it proceeds to replicate and cause injury. Signs of infection include pus, a pimple or yellow crust around the wound, a scab that is growing in size, redness around the wound, tenderness, swelling, blisters or black tissue near the wound, fever, and a wound that has not healed after ten days. If the symptoms do not go away or become worse then it is necessary to contact a physician. You should contact a doctor if you feel weak, the redness spreads, a fever occurs, and if the wound becomes severely painful. The extent of the infection will determine the long-term prognosis. However, most wound healing should occur within several weeks with no further problems. The most severe cases of infection are associated with other complications that can include permanent disability, amputation, and death.
References:
http://intermountainhealthcare.org/xp/public/instacare/skinlocal/infection/call.xml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infections