Antibiotic Treatments for Foot Ulcers

When you suffer from a foot ulcer, it's most likely one of two common varieties. The first is considered an arterial ulcer that develops out of a blockage along an artery in your foot. The second is a neurotrophic ulcer that forms on any pressure point on the sole of your foot due to a complication of diabetes. Regardless of the cause, these ulcers are prone to infection, often making an antibiotic treatment a necessary part of healing.

Antibiotic Treatments

• Since any sort of break in the skin is vulnerable to bacteria, it may be necessary to incorporate antibiotics into your care regimen for a foot ulcer. But these antibiotics aren't the only course of treatment for this condition; though most cases of infected foot ulcers will include a course of oral antibiotics, you'll also need to integrate other treatments into your daily routine.

  If a foot ulcer has become infected, you'll most likely be prescribed an oral antibiotic, such as dicloxacillin, amoxicillin and clavulanate, nafcillin or ampicillin and sulbactam, based on the type of bacteria plaguing the ulcer. A culture is taken from the wound to determine what type of medication will clear up the infection. Medications of this type not only kill the foreign pathogen, but also prevent the growth of the bacteria.

Adjunct Antibiotic Treatments

• While you take the daily antibiotic, you'll also need to employ what is called "adjunct antibiotic therapies." Of all of these adjunct treatments, keeping the area clean and clear of debris is probably the most important, so wash the sore (as well as the surrounding skin) in warm, soapy water. Make sure that the soap you're using is gentle. Soaps formulated for infants are probably the best, but your doctor may have another recommendation, so use whatever brand he suggests. Daily washing ensures that any dead skin is removed, the infection doesn't have a chance to worsen and the antibiotic is effective in ridding your system of the bacteria. Once the foot is clean, thoroughly pat the area dry.

  After the area is fully dry, wrap the foot in an antimicrobial dressing. Antimicrobial dressings don't just further protect the foot from bacteria, but they can actually kill the bacteria that have infected the sore as well. Many of these dressings contain antibiotics within the material itself, making it an important part of your antibiotic treatment. Dressing should be changed each day, so talk to your doctor about getting some antimicrobial gauze to dress the wound.

  From there, simply slip on a compression stocking to ensure proper circulation with the foot to aid in healing and recovery.