Foot wounds are a common problem when you have diabetes. Unfortunately, foot wounds are also more prone to infection due to immune system issues and delayed healing caused by diabetes. Your podiatrist can help manage the risk of infection in foot wounds. Dr. Cosimo Ricciardi and Dr. Neil Patel at Emerald Coast Podiatry offer comprehensive podiatry services, including infection management and wound care. He has two convenient office locations in Fort Walton Beach and Crestview, FL.
What You Need To Know About Managing Infection Risk and Diabetic Wound Care
About 15% of people with diabetes will experience a foot wound, and of these, about 6% will be hospitalized from infection, according to the American Podiatric Medical Association.
Several factors increase your risk of infection in a foot wound. The risk of infection increases if you:
- Are older
- Are male
- Use insulin
- Are overweight
- Use alcohol and tobacco
Pain may or may not be a symptom of a foot infection due to nerve damage associated with diabetes. You need to visit your podiatrist if you:
- Have a foot wound that doesn’t heal
- Experience pain, swelling, and redness around the wound
- Notice drainage around the foot wound
- Have a fever, fatigue, nausea, or other symptoms
Your podiatrist will begin with a thorough examination of your foot wound. Non-surgical treatment options may be recommended first. These non-surgical options include:
- Applying antibiotic cream to the wound
- Bandaging the wound with an appropriate dressing material
- Prescribing oral antibiotics to kill bacteria causing the infection
For severe wounds that don’t respond to non-surgical treatments, your podiatrist may recommend surgerStandardmon surgical therapies include:
- Shaving or excising bone to eliminate pressure on the a so that so the wound can heal
- Debridement to remove dead tissue and infection
Want To Know More About Infection Management and Wound Care?
To learn more about managing infection risk and diabetic wound care, call Dr. Ricciardi and Dr. Neil Patel at Emerald Coast Podiatry. You can reach him in the Fort Walton Beach, FL, office by calling (850) 862-4119 or in Crestview, FL, by calling (850) 682-6522, so call today.