Suppuratio

Suppuratio is a historical and, in some contexts, still-used medical term that denotes suppuration—the production or discharge of pus as a result of infection or inflammatory processes. The word derives from the Latin suppurare, to induce pus. In modern clinical language the more common terms are purulent or purulence, but suppuratio appears in older texts and in some veterinary or anatomical descriptions.

Pathophysiology: Purulent inflammation occurs when leukocytes migrate to an infected or damaged site, phagocytose pathogens, and release enzymes that cause tissue destruction. The resulting debris, dead neutrophils, and bacteria form pus. When this material accumulates in tissues or body cavities, it can create an abscess or necessitate drainage through ducts or sinus tracts. Purulent exudate is often opaque or creamy and may have a foul odor. Organisms frequently implicated include Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus species, and anaerobes.

Clinical manifestations and examples: Suppuration can be localized, as in a skin abscess or dental abscess, or more diffuse, as in purulent cellulitis. It can also occur in body cavities, such as empyema (pus in a pleural space) or septic arthritis with purulent drainage. The presence of pus is a hallmark of purulent inflammation, though not all infections progress to suppuration.

Diagnosis and management: Treatment emphasizes source control and antimicrobial therapy. Drainage or surgical debridement of infected tissue is often essential, combined with targeted antibiotics based on culture results and local guidelines. Early drainage reduces the risk of spread to sepsis or chronic infection. In many contexts, suppuration resolves with appropriate drainage and therapy.

Usage note: Suppuratio is primarily encountered in historical, anatomical, or veterinary literature. In contemporary medicine, purulence or purulent inflammation is the standard term.