Podiatrists reducing antibiotic resistance has never been more important than now. The advent of Covid-19 has made it difficult for people to access NHS primary care services. An estimated only 1 in 10 people currently, can get a face to face appointment with their GP. Alternatives are eConsult, phone call, video consultations. When set up and orchestrated well a ‘virtual’ appointment can suffice for a plethora of medical problems, but there are many flaws. No physical examination, no observation of patient mood, not being able to take routine blood pressures and do other simple diagnostic tests. Patients are left at risk and issues can be missed. Over-prescribing of antibiotics is just one of the concerning issues.
Over-prescribing of antibiotics is a real concern to me as a podiatrist. In recent years there has been a drive to reduce antibiotic prescriptions; antimicrobial stewardship programmes. Antibiotic resistance is increasing in the general public. Bacteria is becoming resistant to many of the older antibiotics, making it harder to treat bacterial infections.
Covid-19 is a viral infection which weakens the body to cause secondary bacterial infections. Strong antibiotics are required to fight these life-threatening infections. If they don’t work on a patient because they have developed antibiotic resistance, then there is a real problem.
Question:
If an individual with an infected toe, ingrown toenail routinely be prescribed antibiotics? Should the foot not be examined 1st and an alternative treatment plan devised?
Answer:
Antibiotics do not treat an ingrown toenail. Yes, the foot should be examined first and appropriate treatment given. Antibiotics should be the last resort. Over-prescribing of antibiotics can lead to resistance, but also other unwanted health effects. Antibiotics can upset the gut’s healthy balance of bacteria. Antibiotics can inadvertently increase risk of developing fungal nail and skin infections.
Podiatrists Reducing Antibiotic Resistance
If an individual develops a foot infection they should quickly seek the professional help of a podiatrist. It should be their 1st port of call. Podiatrists are classified as low risk medical key workers. Podiatrists have been safely treating ‘at risk’ patients all through the coronavirus pandemic. Podiatrists adhere to high levels of clinical sanitisation, PPE and have their own policies in place for social distancing. For that extra bit of patient confidence choose an accredited podiatry practice.
Podiatrists are experts at wound care, have dermatology knowledge. An ingrown nail, infected toe can be effectively treated without the need for antibiotics. A lesion, wound can be healed quickly without the risk of developing into an ulcer or becoming infected. Understanding why a problem has occurred is key to a successful treatment outcome. Most presenting issues are secondary to another problem whether that is biomechanical, poor footwear, occupation, lifestyle or patient has an underlying health condition e.g. diabetes, vascular deficiencies.
Who better to understand and treat a foot problem than a podiatrist? Podiatrists are playing a big role in post-covid-19 rehabilitation. If a podiatrist feels a patient should be on antibiotics or needs to be referred appropriately onto another medical specialism then they will. They can request antibiotics, x-rays, and suggest, recommend other diagnostic interventions. A podiatrist can put patients on the appropriate referral pathway. This does not all need to be done in-house, meaning in the NHS public sector, but can be done in the private sector.
The quicker an individual accesses appropriate treatment for their presenting foot problem the quicker the treatment resolution. The unnecessary need for antibiotics can be negated and antibiotic resistance mitigated. Podiatrists can truly assist in the health of the nation and it’s feet.
Compleet Feet is an Accredited Podiatry Practice. Katrina has extended scope of practice to treat many benign superficial skin growths. Mask to mask consultation required.
