A 45-year-old male presents to the emergency department with increasing pain and redness around a laceration on his forearm that he sustained 3 days ago while working with sheet metal. The wound appears swollen and there is a purulent discharge. What is the most appropriate initial action in managing this infected wound?
Discharge the patient with oral antibiotics and a follow-up appointment.
Apply a sterile dressing without cleaning the wound.
Irrigate and possibly debride the wound, then assess the need for antibiotics.
Immediately administer intravenous antibiotics.