Which statement about signs of postoperative infection at the surgical site is most accurate?

• A. Shortness of breath and chest pain.
• B. Increased appetite and fatigue without fever.
• C. Redness, warmth, drainage, and fever.
• D. Cough and nasal congestion.

Answer: (C)

Recognizing infection at a surgical site comes from noticing both local inflammatory signs and a systemic response. Redness and warmth around the wound show increased blood flow and inflammation at the area. Drainage, especially if it’s purulent, suggests bacterial involvement in the wound. Fever indicates the body's systemic response to infection. When these elements appear together, they point to a postoperative wound infection.

The other options don’t fit this pattern: shortness of breath and chest pain are not wound-specific signs and point to cardiopulmonary issues or embolism. Increased appetite with fatigue is not typical of infection, which usually brings reduced appetite and fever. Cough and nasal congestion are respiratory symptoms unrelated to wound infection.