What should you do before you perform wound closure?

• A. Irrigate with Saline
• B. Culture the Wound
• C. Achieve Hemostasis
• D. Apply Antibiotic Ointment

Answer: (C)

Stopping the bleed is the priority before closing a wound. Achieving hemostasis creates a stable, clean wound bed and prevents a hematoma from forming under the closure, which can push edges apart, harbor bacteria, delay healing, and raise infection risk. Once bleeding is controlled, you can proceed with cleansing the wound to remove debris and bacteria, then close. Culturing the wound or applying antibiotic ointment aren’t routinely required steps before closure; cultures are used when infection is suspected, and antibiotic ointment is typically used after closure as part of infection prevention.