Gwyneth Paltrow, Matt Damon, and Kate Winslet star in a new movie called Contagion. This movie is about a virus that causes a deadly disease. Doctors and scientists of the world struggle to deal with disease outbreak as it quickly spreads from person to person. If you keep up with the news, you know that scientists have done a good job at creating medications, vaccines, and antibiotics that help treat infections. The scary news is that these critters are getting stronger and resistant. In the future it may be more difficult to treat the same bacterial, virus, and fungal infections that we treat today.
This summer, this blog discussed viral and fungal infections and how easy they can be picked up by your feet. These infections are not usually deadly like the one in Contagion, but they can cause serious problems. Bacterial infections in the feet can also be dangerous. If they are not treated quickly and properly it is very possible that a toe, foot, or leg will have to have to be amputated. The bacteria that commonly infect the foot are Staphylococcus aureus, Group A streptococci, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. It is not important to know how to say these bacteria as it is to know that these bacteria are in our everyday environment. Some of these bacteria are living on your skin right now! A problem occurs when these critters get into your body. The body has natural defenses that fight off the bacteria, but many of us have conditions that weaken our immune system. Such conditions include diabetes, circulatory problems, HIV infection, and malnutrition. Some medications, like the ones used for joint pain, also weaken the immune system. Once in the body, bacteria can affect the tissue, muscle, and bone. If untreated, the bacteria can find its way into your bloodstream —this can be deadly!
Healthy, young people can also pick up bacterial infections. Scrapes or cuts from a rock or seashell, an ingrown toenail, or going to unsanitary pedicure parlors increases your risk of developing a bacterial infection. Common signs of a bacterial infection are a throbbing pain, pus, redness, and warmness. If you ever have these symptoms in your foot, come to Affiliated Foot & Ankle Center, LLP immediately! We have locations at Howell, Edison, and Monroe, New Jersey. Do not think the problem will go away by itself because it may get worse. At Affiliated Foot & Ankle Center, a podiatrist will treat your infection correctly. The dead skin and tissue will be removed. Depending on how bad your foot is infected, your podiatrist might have to get other doctors involved and make a plan for your recovery.
No matter if you have a chronic disease or if you are healthy, there are things you can do to prevent bacteria from causing problems.
- Wear shoes outside. Wearing shoes decreases the risk of causing injuries that can lead to bacteria entering your body.
- If you have diabetes and/or circulatory problems, make sure you are seeing your podiatrist regularly to make sure your feet are healthy and free of wounds
- If you suffer a serious foot injury, go see a podiatrist. Immediate treatment can prevent bacterial infections.
- After foot surgery, follow all directions that your podiatrist gives you. Change foot dressings properly and take any antibiotics exactly as told.
- Do not ignore a foot injury that is red, painful, warm, and has pus. Do not be embarrassed. These symptoms mean that it is very likely your injury is infected and you need podiatric care right away.
The movie Contagion was make believe, but bacterial foot infections are not. We are lucky to have antibiotics to treat infections, but some bacterial infections are very hard to treat and get rid of. Protect your feet and prevent bacteria from finding a home in your body.
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