In Belgium, around 120 000 people suffer from burns yearly. Burns still remain a major clinical challenge, mainly due to bacterial infection. Nowadays, infections are diagnosed by removing the wound dressing followed by wound sampling and sample analysis. In situ detection of infection by means of a color signal can alert health care staff in an early state and improve clinical outcomes. In the current work, different acrylate endcapped urethane based precursors (AUP) were combined with diagnostic compounds. AUP with a poly(ethylene glycol) backbone molar mass of 20 kg/mol (AUP20k) was combined with three cross-linkers (pentaerythritol tetraacrylate, ethylene glycol diacrylate and AUP2k) in different double bond ratios (1:1 and 1:4). AUP20k hydrogels with the crosslinker AUP2k in a 1:1 double bond ratio revealed to have the most optimal mechanical and swelling properties. These had an absorption capacity of 32±1.6 times its own weight and a gel fraction of 80.2±4.1%. Moreover, their compressive modulus in dry and wet state was 52.4±1.0 kPa and 35.7±3.0 kPa respectively. Subsequently, the potential of Ellman’s reagent and bacteria-responsive liposomes to induce a color signal upon bacterial infection was investigated. Both the Ellman’s reagent and the bacteria-responsive phospholipid liposomes with the self-quenching dye 5(6)carboxyfluorescein were successfully incorporated in the hydrogels. Especially the latter showed great diagnostic potential as a fluorescent yellow signal of the hydrogel was demonstrated and quantified by colorimetry upon simulation of infection. Hydrogel wound dressings with a controlled diagnostic potential can thus early identify infections and better control the healing of burn wounds.