If you have diabetes which in turn gets you low circulation which then leads to venous statsis disease which then leads to ulcers in your legs which then can lead to infections of those ulcers. These infections can be regarded as soft tissue infections. For short they can be called SSTIs which stands for skin and soft tissue infections.
It can be a bad thing if you are unfortunate enough to end up with infected leg ulcers. If not treated you can lose a limb or your life. Make it a priority to see a doctor to look at it and propose a proper plan of attack.
How To Treat Soft Tissue Infections
SSTIs treatment includes antibiotics as well as treatment of any underlying condition that led to the skin infection.
Elevation — Elevating the arm or leg above the level of the heart can help to reduce swelling and speed healing.
Keep the area clean and dry — It is imperative that you keep the infected area free from dirt and absent of moisture. You can shower or bathe normally and pat the area dry with a clean towel. You can use a bandage or gauze to protect the skin if needed. Do not use any antibiotic ointments or creams.
Antibiotics — Most people with soft tissue infections are treated with an antibiotic that is taken by mouth for one to two weeks. The “best” antibiotic to use will be determined by your doctor.
If the infection is severe, you may need to be hospitalized and treated with antibiotics through an IV
It is important to take the antibiotic exactly as recommended and to finish the entire course of treatment. Skipping doses or ending treatment early could potentially allow the bacteria to become resistant and require longer treatment.
Give it time — You should start noticing improvement in about 1 to 3 days after starting antibiotics. Some cases have reported no improvement until 2 weeks for the more stubborn bacteria. In the case that your conditions of infection get worse such as the reddened area becomes more tender, larger and more swollen go to the doctor for further evaluation. They will need to prescribe a different antibiotic or take more tests.