Infection Control in Lower Limb Oedema

Abstract

Infections of lower limbs with underlying oedema are one of the most important causes responsible for considerable morbidity often requiring repeated hospitalizations. While lower extremities are prone to infections due to biomechanical complexities, underlying oedema aggravates it. Cellulitis is the simple form of bacterial infection of the skin and soft tissue. Severe infections in form of necrotizing fasciitis can involve the lower limb leading to unforeseen circumstances. Several events lead to the progress of these infections, which if identified early results in better management. Prudent and timely use of antibiotics help in early management of infections. However, all types of infections might not require antibiotics and it is very important to realize the microbiological basis of such infections to ensure the best choice of antibiotics. Treatment strategies have been evolving with time and many technical and nonpharmacological breakthroughs have now emphasized the importance of dedicated self-care in controlling infections in lower limb oedema. Infection control in lower limb oedema is a real challenge owing to the multiple factors involved and therefore it often requires a multidisciplinary approach involving expertise in specific care to tackle the challenges. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2022.