Bacterial elimination is the primary event occurring during which phase of wound healing?

Correct answer: A. Inflammation

• A. Correct. INFLAMMATION (first phase of wound healing) is when BACTERIAL ELIMINATION occurs. Neutrophils (PMNs) are recruited within hours of injury to phagocytose bacteria and debris. Macrophages follow, continuing the cleanup. This antimicrobial activity is the hallmark function of the inflammatory phase.
• B. Incorrect. Organization/proliferation involves fibroblast activity, angiogenesis, and collagen deposition — bacterial clearance should have occurred during inflammation.
• C. Incorrect. Remodeling (maturation) occurs weeks to months after injury, involving collagen cross-linking and tensile strength improvement — bacteria have been addressed long before this phase.
• D. Incorrect. Migration/epithelialization involves keratinocytes migrating across the wound surface — not the primary site of bacterial elimination.