
Thursday of this week I had a patient who had "bumped his shin", developed cellulitis which abscessed and subsequently turned into a stage III wound needing debridment, packing, possible plastic surgery. The medical interpretation of the cause of his abscess was "lower extremity trauma followed by jacuzzi exposure". Wondering if this is a common medical problem*, I did a little research and discovered another ailment known as hot tub rash (pseudomonis folliculitis), a bacterial infection of the hair follicles.
So, the next time you're thinking about your relaxing afternoon at the spa, think again.
It is a fairly common medical problem. Typically, people with compromised immune systems or poor circulation, or healthy people with an open sore, can be exposed to staph and other strange things in that large, steaming petri dish of relaxation. Professional athletes, fearful of MRSA, have began to take extra precautions around shared jacuzzis.
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