Sunday, March 17, 2013

Happy St. Patrick's Day and Green Feet


Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Today is the day that all Irish and Irish honorees don their green clothing and head out to pinch all of those not in green. We are celebrating the Irish heritage of this country with lots of drinking, laughing and enjoying life together. But there is one place that you do not want to see green and that is on your feet.

Pseudomonas is a type of bacteria that appears green when it infects your skin. It is a very common bacteria in puncture wounds and diabetic foot wounds. It is so common in puncture wounds that it is actually the #1 suspected bacteria when someone steps on something that goes through their shoe and pierces their skin.

Once you have been infected with pseudomonas, the wound will start to grow what looks like a green film over the area. The area will appear bright green and almost looks like a fungus. So, you may be wondering what we can do about your infection. Basically, it comes down to the world of pharmaceutical drugs. There are several drugs that treat Pseudomonas. Depending on the severity of the infection you may be able to take oral drugs, but if it is bad enough you may need IV drugs.

So, if you have stepped on something or you have a diabetic ulcer, it is important that you come into your podiatrist office for treatment. These wounds will not heal if they are infected and will actually increase in size and cause you more problems than what you need to deal with.

If you or someone you know has a diabetic ulcer or has stepped on something it is important that you see your local podiatrist to talk about the best treatment plans for you. If you live in the Bradford or Westborough, Massachusetts area, Dr. Wachtel would be more than happy to see you and help treat your infection. We are also happy to announce our Methuen and North Andover offices located at 451 Andover St. Suite 300, North Andover MA 01845 and 87 Jackson St, Methuen, MA 01835.

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