How Do I Know if the Fluid is Just an Infected Seroma or if the Actual Mesh is Infected Post Hernia Repair?

Worrisome signs for infection after surgery would be increasing pain, foul smelling drainage, redness, swelling, fevers, chills, etc..  Good luck.

   These are all good questions.  Clinically, an exam would be necessary to sort these things out.  If the fluid collection was drained and you were placed on antibiotics, that may be optimal management depending upon how you look and feel.  I think it is also important to ask the doctor if he believes there was an infection or just a fluid collection.

If the incision continues to drain and doesn't heal, then that makes one more suspicious of an underlying infection. You need to ask your doctor point blank.