Wound covering with infection indicium

A wound covering comprising:

• an inner layer designed for absorbing wound exudate and facilitating water evaporation;
• an outer layer with a proximal surface having an adhesive for securing the wound covering over a wound, and a distal surface supporting an indicia mechanism;
• a central layer incorporating an absorbent pad made of cotton or a water-absorbing hydrogel;
• a contacting surface having a thin, porous-polymer coating on a proximal surface of the central layer to provide a non-stick surface preventing disruption of the wound when removed;
• and
• an indicator surface incorporating a sensor indicator comprising a pH-responsive additive capable of monitoring a wound for infection by detecting temperature and pH at a skin surface, wherein the pH-responsive additive, polyaniline, is incorporated into a separate layer within the contacting surface, and its color change due to pH variation is visible through the indicator surface or a transparent region in the wound covering.