Final answer:
Clean wounds occur under ideal conditions with minimal risk of infection, contaminated wounds have a high risk of infection due to exposure to dirt or bacteria, and infected wounds occur when bacteria or other pathogens enter the wound and cause an infection.
Step-by-step explanation:
When it comes to wounds, there are three categories: clean, contaminated, and infected wounds. Clean wounds are those that occur under ideal conditions, where there is minimal risk of infection. Contaminated wounds are those that carry a high risk of infection due to exposure to dirt, bacteria, or other foreign substances. Infected wounds occur when bacteria or other pathogens enter the wound and cause an infection.
For example, a clean wound might be a surgical incision made in a sterile operating room. A contaminated wound could be a gash obtained from falling off a bike onto a dirty street pavement. An infected wound might occur after bacteria enter a puncture wound from stepping on a rusty nail.