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Posts for tag: sepsis

By drbhatia
December 26, 2011
Category: Foot Care

 

Back in June, the Columbus Dispatch published an article on the scary reality of sepsis or septicemia, an infection of the blood that can be deadly.  This past week a follow up article was run on the positive outlook of the Columbus man who survived his sepsis and subsequent below the knee amputation.  With the help of a new prosthetic leg, the man is learning to walk again. 

While sepsis is a terrifying infection of the blood, an often related infection that frequently occurs in the foot and leg is called “osteomyelitis”.  Osteomyelitis occurs when bacteria reaches and infects the bone.  As bone tries to fight off the infection, it often walls off the dead piece of bone, called a sequestrum, and attempts to envelop the piece away from healthy tissue by quickly synthesizing a weaker woven bone around it called an involucrum.  Pain that feels as though it is coming from the bone, and edema, or swelling are the most common initial complaints of a patient with osteomyelitis.  In order to diagnose a bone infection, taking x-rays are the first step.  A timely diagnosis is imperative to prevent the spread of infection through larger areas of the bone and into the joint.  If not caught early enough, like sepsis, osteomyelitis may require lower extremity amputation to prevent further damage. 

But how can bacteria get to your bones through the surrounding layers of skin, fat and muscle unless you have had a bad fracturewhere the bone penetrated the skin?  In children, an elevated amount of bacteria in the bloodstream can not only lead to sepsis, but also has a tendency to dwell in and infect the slow moving capillaries of still growing bones.  This is called hematogenous osteomyelitis in which the blood has carried the igniting agent for the bone infection.  In adults, “direct extension” osteomyelitis is the most common cause of bone infections, with the foot bones of diabetic patientsbeing at a very high risk.  Direct extension means that bacteria has infected a wound in the more superficial tissues, such as the skin or fat and then “extended” its way down to attack the bone.  Because many diabetic patients often have lost some or all of their sensation in their feet, a small cut or irritation can quickly develop into a major ulcerby the individual unknowingly continuing to irritate the sensationless area.  This injury then allows an easy route for bacteria to travel to and attack the bones of the foot.  Amputation is a serious risk in diabetic patients through this process. 

Amputation is a grave condition on its own for diabetic patients.  Within five years of one below the knee amputation, research has shown that risk of below the knee amputation of the other leg greatly increased.  The second amputation has an almost deadly effect, with increased mortality seen within the next five years.    It is for these reasons that even the smallest wound or ulcer of the foot or ankle must be taken very seriously by diabetic patients.  Regular self-examsand visits to your podiatrist at the first sign of injury, infection or bone painin any patient are critical to preventing and treating these deadly conditions. 

Please visit www.ColumbusFoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio near Worthington. If you would like to see a podiatrist in Dublin, Ohio near Tuttle Crossing, call 614-885-3338 for an appointment.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

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By drbhatia
June 13, 2011
Category: Foot Care

podiatrist in Columbus Ohio, podiatry, foot exam, diabetes, diabetic foot care, sepsis

This past Tuesday, June 7, I read an article in the Columbus Dispatch about a local man who was successfully treated for sepsis at the Ohio State University Medical Center.  Sepsis is a concern for any doctor to watch for in his patients, but is especially important to watch for in a podiatric setting because it occurs more commonly in diabetic individuals and often involves the feet or legs.

Unfortunately for the man mentioned in the article, even though his life was saved he still lost parts of his hands and one half of each foot to gangrene.  In sepsis, a bacterial infection has spread through the body in the bloodstream.  This triggers a body-wide immune response that creates tiny clots, inhibiting blood supply to tissues that require blood to remain vital and functioning.  In diabetic patients, whose blood supply is often already compromised to their lower extremities, steps must be taken to prevent infections and thus sepsis and gangrene as well.  While the man in the article did not know where his infection came from and his first sign of an infection was a sore throat, hospitalized patients and those recovering from surgery are often at the highest risk for sepsis.  All patients, but especially diabetic patients, need to avoid any open wounds, cuts or lesions on their legs or feet.  If a wound goes unnoticed, it may become infected with bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus which can worsen and spread to become sepsis if not treated. 

To prevent wound infections and sepsis, self-foot exams are very important.  Identify any breaks in the skin as soon as possible.  Take proper care to clean and bandage wounds and watch for abnormal changes.  Pain, redness, swelling and discharge are all possible signs of infection that you should contact your podiatrist to examine immediately.  If you can visibly see an infection spread from one part of the foot to another, this is also cause for prompt medical attention.  If an infection is present and you develop a fever, elevated heart or respiratory rate this is indicative that the infection has spread to become sepsis and treatment becomes even more urgent.   The earlier an infection is stopped the better the treatment outcome will be for the patient.  Hopefully patient awareness will increase thanks to survivor stories such as the one featured in the Columbus Dispatch to prevent amputations and save lives!

Please visit www.columbusfoot.com for more information or call 614-885 FEET (3338) to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Podiatry & Surgery is located on the North side of Columbus, Ohio near Powell.

By Dr. Animesh (Andy) Bhatia

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Podiatrist - Animesh Bhatia, D.P.M., C.W.S. , Sarah Newby, D.P.M. , Columbus OH, 43235, Dublin, OH 43017, (614) 885-3338
If you are in search of an experienced podiatrist in Columbus Ohio, you have come to the right place. Our podiatrists in Columbus, OH and Dublin, OH are highly skilled in many aspects of podiatric treatments. Selecting a foot doctor in your area can be a difficult task, but it doesn't have to be, especially when you have Dr. Bhatia and Dr. Newby as options.