Final answer:
Purulent drainage is a yellowish or whitish pus-filled fluid indicative of bacterial infection, composed of dead pathogens, neutrophils, and cellular debris. Under a microscope, numerous neutrophils can be observed, which play a role in the formation of pus. The presence of purulence necessitates medical intervention, potentially including antibiotics.
Step-by-step explanation:
Purulent refers to a type of drainage or exudate that is associated with bacterial infections and comprises of pus. Pus is a thick, yellowish or whitish fluid that accumulates at the site of infection and is a mixture of dead pathogens, neutrophils, tissue fluid, and cellular debris. Noteworthy, the presence of purulence indicates a suppurative infection, where the body's immune response has been activated to contain and combat the bacterial invasion.
When observing a purulent infection under a microscope, one can expect to see numerous neutrophils, which are white blood cells that phagocytose pathogens and then die, contributing to the formation of pus. These infections often require medical attention, which may include the administration of antibiotics to control the infection and prevent its further progression, as in the cases of pyelonephritis, pyoderma, and more severely, necrotizing fasciitis.