Husband leg infection being almost ignored (disgusting pics included)

[NOTSUREWHATIMDOINHERE]

Hello

So been at nurse 3 weeks in row. Had leg infection for 2 weeks antibiotics not working and it's now worse. Smells. Pain so severe he cant walk so will be off work now! Nurse just dressing it and sending him away after asking gp to prescribe 2nd set of different antibiotics after 1st set that was supposed to be the right ones for that infection did absolutely nothing to help him.

What would you do ? We are worried, he can't get about its horrible. He had a venous ulcer but this was due to that part of the leg getting bumped and all of sudden this infection gets worse , he was hiding it from me !

That's awful I couldn't even look at it bit squeamish. Hope you get him sorted.

I have had severe cellulitis and sepsis loads as I have lymphodema in my legs I suggest going to a and e checking his temp and see if he needs antibiotics via iv as antibiotic pills sometimes just doesn’t work enough he may need iv four times a day it can get very nasty does he feel like he has chills temp etc

Im sorry this happened to your poor grandad

I really hope she learnt a valuable lesson but sadly i doubt it

I know someone who had an infected leg like this. Eventually diagnosed with necrobiosis lipoidica. Years on it is still healing.
He also had huge infection markers when his blood was checked and had cellulitis/sepsis. Intravenous antibiotics given daily for two weeks.
My friend presented well at a+e and the staff were really surprised when his infection markers came back hugely inflated, but thank goodness he went when he did, or it could have been a different story.

A&E and report the nurse. She needs retraining. Before anyone jumps to the defence of the nurse. I am one.

hope your DH managed to get to A&E! That looks dreadful - definitely needs IV antibiotics asap and that nurse you’ve been seeing needs to explain themselves!

Everybody needs to stop doom mongering, this isn't a soap opera,
The op is very aware that their partner's leg needs looking at, he's gone to hospital. He's in the right place, the op I'm presuming is asleep, or looking after a child. She's worried, and most comments are unhelpful at best. Have some compassion, catastrophic stories are really not what the op is going to want to wade through in the morning.
He's at the hospital, she's asleep, just stop & think before writing your response.

Hope you dh is doing OK op x

Good luck for your dh. So glad to hear he's going to A and E. That looks so awful.

Glad he's being seen OP, hope there's a plan in place soon. Report the nurse ,she needs re training.

Not read the full thread yet but my dad and brother suffer with serious leg ulcers so have some experience - he needs to go to hospital.
Go to A&E. There's nothing more to be said @NOTSUREWHATIMDOINHERE other than do not put it off or let your husband out it off. He needs seeing now!

Sorry I hadn't got to this post before I replied - I really hope he's been seen and they get him sorted x

I’ve just finished my shift, and saw this. I am absolutely horrified that the OP’s husband/partner has had to endure this. I’m absolutely disgusted that this poor excuse for a nurse has been next to useless. The first thing about any infection that should set alarm bells going is SMELL and HEAT even if something looks innocent, it literally is an oven of bacterial infection ready to let itself loose.
Can I please reiterate my mantra do not put up and shut up, when you know any pain is getting worse get to the hospital. If you are waiting for 3 days to see your GP, don’t wait get to the hospital. Yes I admit you may have to wait hours but surely that is better than 3 days waiting for a GP?
OP I really hope that your husband/partner gets immediate urgent treatment asap. Do not be alarmed if he is put immediately on IV antibiotics and his leg is lanced. The infection has to come out immediately, he must be absolutely distraught with pain, so I’m hoping that they deal with that as well.
Also raise a complaint about the disgraceful and frankly negligent treatment thus far.

Dr. Google your nearest hospital with vascular onsite (it's niche most places don't have them)... then go to a&e there asap. Is he diabetic? Will need doppler checks of blood flow as could potentially be limb threatening

IMO, he needs to be admitted urgently to hospital for IV antibiotics.

A&E don’t wait just go now

Ask um exactly what are they treating with the antibiotics. And are they sure it’s sensitive.

he needs wound cleaning and then a swab taking to see what’s there. There is also a science behind what type of dressing is used /some are more effective so you need to check this.

it could need debriding - how did it start? Is it an injury or an ulcer? Is he diabetic. Ask to see a vascular team or your GP needs to ring microbiology for advice.

This is a sensible post. I am a vascular consultant and see lots of leg ulcers. In these pictures I can skin changes representing chronic venous insufficiency. There is nothing here on the photo to suggest infection. This does NOT look like cellulitis.

Wet ulcers can be very smelly AND painful but are not necessarily infected . Often there is bacterial colonization not infection. Leg ulcers are often over treated with antibiotics. Sometimes they are not being changes often enough and the dressings stink.

Are the dressings becoming soaked through OP ?

Unless he is unwell ( high temp , fast heart rate or just unwell in himself , he does not need to go to ED) .

What he definitely does need is high elevation of his leg so on the sofa or in bed with a pile
of cushions under the leg with his toes at the level of his nose. He needs enough pain relief to do this. He also needs compression bandaging.

Go back to see the practice nurse on Monday, discuss the frequency of dressing changes , pain relief he is getting and ask for vascular assessment. I’m afraid there are so many referrals like that he may not be seen for a month or 2 . The criteria for referral is an ulcer that has not healed despite 2 weeks in full compression and then they wait a month. There are millions of people in the community with this sort of wound that clearly Mumsnetters do not see. I am amazed to see how horrified people are at the sight of a venous leg ulcer.

A&E if he is unwell as above.

What is your DH’s general health like?

Is he susceptible to develop venous leg ulcers due to another health condition? If yes, this needs addressing too as controlling the underlying cause will keep it at bay in the long term.

If it was just as a result of an injury be mindful he may have this reaction again in the future so prompt treatment is necessary.

A&E immediately. My mum developed cellulitis post gardening injury that she hid from us all until it was quite serious.Took several different lots of antibiotics to sort. The fact that it smells is not a good sign.

Hope he’s doing ok OP and has been seen now.

If the NHS wasn't so shit people wouldn't have to advocate for themselves to receive even a basic level of care.

Do you havexa local walk-in centre? This needs a doppler assessment to determine the cause or confirm this is a deterioration of his existing one, in which case he looks as if e needs compression therapy
He needs a referral to a tissue viability nurse (TVN) or wound care centre, such as a Lindsay Leg Club (legclub.org): indeed, if you have one of these locally, you'll get better results than with a lone TVN
I know it's scant consolation, but I seen worse

I have had infection as well in ankle, nowhere near as bad as that and I was treated as urgent with IV antibiotics and daily hospital and clinic visits for dressing changes.

Please get him to hospital now and when he is assessed, ask if they have a SDEC (Same Day EmergencyCare) unit as that might be more appropriate.

please do not wait

I am amazed to see how horrified people are at the sight of a venous leg ulcer

Why are you amazed?

The only time I've seen anything worse than the pictures on this thread was when I saw a pyoderma gangrenosum on someone's leg.

That was utterly horrendous

The OPs husband's leg looks horrific to me

Maybe you've become desensitised through your work?