I am just back from the APMA National in Seattle. During the meeting not only did we have a successful Book Signing for the 3^rd Edition but I also discussed this blog during both of my lectures to large audiences on Saturday.  I am also pleased to announce that digests from this blog are being published on the Podiatry Today website (www.podiatrytoday.com) and we have already garnered a number of new viewers through that portal. Given the interest generated as evidenced by folks asking for information about this site I felt that I should restate my thoughts on what I want to accomplish with this blog for those newcomers checking in for the first time.  As I have previously written in an earlier introductory entry:

“The purpose of this site is twofold; to allow me to interact with anyone interested in the treatment of lower extremity infections and to give me an opportunity to update the readership on new developments in infectious diseases as they become available.  I regularly review the ID literature for manuscripts that have a direct bearing on the way we treat the lower extremity and attend ID meetings.  This blog allows me to disseminate that information rapidly which would be impossible if I had to wait for my next book revision.

I envision this site as being interactive.  If you have a question about an interesting case (you can even post pictures), have recently heard a lecture, been detailed by an antibiotic representative or just randomly thought of a question on which you would like my thoughts, ASK AWAY!  I will do my best to answer in a timely manner with the best available evidence to support what I say, not to mention a dose of my opinion/experience.    In the future I hope to start running the occasional poll to capture what others may do in a given situation.  If you have any other ideas for this site, please let me know.  I am open to suggestions on how to make it of value to you”

When you register, it is completely free with no obligation; you will get an email notification whenever I post something.  I don’t have a strict timeframe for posting.  I only put up something when I feel it will be of interest.  I may go a few weeks without any or do a few in a row. The best, most convenient way to know is to register. 

Although loaded with information, any textbook is static.  Once it is published, the information does not change.  Given the rapid pace of development in ID, diabetic foot and wound care, I feel it is important to have a means of keeping folks up to date with the latest information.   Thank you for your interest and please feel free to contact me with your thoughts and suggestions.

To any of my readers planning on attending the NY Clinical Conference this coming weekend, I will be in the exhibit hall at the DataTrace booth on Saturday January 30th.  I will be there to discuss this blog, sign copies of the 3rd Edition (not that it will increase the value of it…heck, it may diminish it!) and just generally hang out and meet anyone interested in discussing lower extremity infectious diseases.  Please come by and say “Hi”.

Data Trace, the publisher of the Handbook of Lower Extremity Infections, 3^rd Edition, has started a bit of a marketing “blitz” in response to the recent release of the book.  I want to take this opportunity to welcome those of you who have just come across this blog either through the recent direct mailing or the ads in PM News or Podiatry Management Magazine.  The purpose of this site is twofold; to allow me to interact with anyone interested in the treatment of lower extremity infections and to give me an opportunity to update the readership on new developments in infectious diseases as they become available.  I regularly review the ID literature for manuscripts that have a direct bearing on the way we treat the lower extremity and attend ID meetings.  This blog allows me to disseminate that information rapidly which would be impossible if I had to wait for my next book revision.

I envision this site as being interactive.  If you have a question about an interesting case (you can even post pictures), have recently heard a lecture, been detailed by an antibiotic representative or just randomly thought of a question on which you would like my thoughts, ASK AWAY!  I will do my best to answer in a timely manner with the best available evidence to support what I say, not to mention a dose of my opinion/experience.    In the future I hope to start running the occasional poll to capture what others may do in a given situation.  If you have any other ideas for this site, please let me know.  I am open to suggestions on how to make it of value to you.

Welcome to my blog.  Wow, that has been a long time coming!  I have wanted to do this for a long time. Writing a book is great but it can be partially outdated by the time it is published.  There is always at least some lag time from writing to editing to publishing.  (That being said, I must give “props” to Data Trace as they have been incredible to work with and the lag time from when I finished writing and editing to the publication of the 3^rd Edition of the Handbook can be measured in weeks instead of months as in the past).  The flow of new information in the field of lower extremity infectious diseases progresses rapidly and, when strictly dealing with a published book, there is no convenient way to update it nearly quickly enough since years elapse between revisions. I have always wanted a way to communicate new information as efficiently as possible.  Yes, I still lecture all over the country and include the latest data in those talks but only a relatively small number of interested parties actually ever attend a formal lecture.  A website dedicated to lower extremity infectious diseases (LEID) along with an updateable blog seems to be the most convenient way to reach the greatest number with the most up to date information.

When I originally approached Data Trace about updating the book, I was probably more interested in a Web presence as I was an actual published 3^rd Edition.  The decision was made to do both since they are unique and valuable in their own rights.  Of course, I may already be behind the technology 8-ball with something as prosaic as a website and blog.  I guess I could start “tweeting” to really get things out there quickly, but anyone who knows me realizes I have trouble saying “hello” in the 140 characters Twitter gives you so I don’t see how it could help get out scientific information!  Who knows, maybe that is the next step…we’ll see.

Now down to business.  As I envision it, the purpose of this blog is to give me the ability to disseminate new data, information, reviews and thought leader opinions in the area of LEID.  It also gives me the ability to communicate with anyone throughout the world who may have a question or problem dealing with a LE infection.  The whole idea of this blog is to be interactive.  I want to hear others’ thoughts and ideas!  This is what will make it intellectually stimulating and fun for me and, hopefully, valuable to those monitoring the site.

Although purchase of the 3^rd Edition of the Handbook of Lower Extremity Infections is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED and desirable, it was agreed that this blog should be open to all comers and not just those who have purchased the book.  While revising the book I reviewed every word to make sure it was still current.  Changes were made where necessary, some extensive, such as an entirely new chapter on MRSA.  I will give more specifics about the update in a future posting.

Thanks for reading my initial post.  Please become an active participant!

Warren S. Joseph, DPM, FIDSA