What does the term "purulent" mean?

The term "purulent" specifically refers to a type of fluid that contains pus. Pus is a thick fluid that forms at the site of an infection and is composed of dead white blood cells, bacteria, and tissue debris. When describing a wound, discharge, or fluid as purulent, it indicates that there is an infection present, and the body is responding by generating pus as part of the inflammatory process. This term is often encountered in medical contexts to assess infections and the types of fluids present in a patient, which can guide further treatment and management decisions. In contrast, other options describe different types of fluid: clear fluid refers to a sterile state, bloody fluid indicates the presence of blood rather than pus, and thick mucus is not synonymous with pus, as it pertains to another kind of bodily secretion not directly related to infections.