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I recently saw a patient who was otherwise v healthy who had bright green (looked like grass colour) interdigittal skin debris. Only between the 4th and 5th.

Any ideas what it might be - it did not smell at all and had been present for months (coming back despite removal during washing) ???

i'm looking forward to the replies to this one!

Pseudomonis infection?

too obvious more imagination please

I have also seen a patient (about 6 months ago now) with this dry texture and bright green colouring between the 4th and 5th toes... Again no pain or discomfort or history of infection... I questioned the patient regarding exposure to chemicals or dyes (maybe from sock dye and perspiration combined) and he said no... Can't remember if it was both feet... I'm stumped!

Its probably a gram negative bacterial infection - get a swab & culture. Pseudomonas is a gram negative bug.

__________________
Craig Payne
Department of Podiatry
La Trobe University
Melbourne, Australia
http://www.latrobe.edu.au/podiatry
__________________________________________________ ___________________________________
God put me on this earth to accomplish a certain number of things - right now I am so far behind, I will never die.
The views expressed above are those of the author and not that of La Trobe University
This is where I am, where are you?

Can it be fungal in nature?

I am a nurse, not a doctor. In my experience Pseudomonas has an unmistakeable odor and is usually in a moist environment.

Try occams Razor. Green debris, grass colour, Could it be grass? Barefoot outdoorsy type?

Robert

Sounds as plausible as any explanation I've heard.But wouldn't grass be able to come off?

So many good ideas have to be rejected simply because they're C**P. Always sad to see a beautiful theory killed by an ugly fact.

pseudomonus does sound unlikly on dry skin with no smell. What chemical reactions cause green oxidate? It's not copper is it? Chemistry not my thing.

Robert

When copper oxidises you get a bright green colour , maybe check dye's used in socks and shoes ?.
Tess

com'on jenny clarke you haven't responded yet to these magniificent responses ......... are we a great team!!!!!!!!!! LCG, short, no wasting energy on verbose drivel; DONNA, honest as ever; CP, the man, no more need be said although i've added a few extra words (drivel?); JOHN SPINA, always ready to offer an answer; METZENBAUM, make great scissors; ROBERTISAACS, i like this boy (a touch of SPOONERism); and yes all the way from little old Berry (a beautiful little hamlet on NSW south coast) is the 'belle' TESS BOWEN ..... PODIATRY ARENA AT ITS FINEST!

Does the patient have any nasal discharge?? Perhaps some dripped into the web space while barefoot.

Nick

It seems to me that you have stumbled on the source of purest green:

Lord Percy: My Lord! I have waited on your return!
Lord Percy: [hugs Blackadder]
Blackadder: And thank God you did, Percy, for I was just thinking to myself, "My God, I die in 12 hours, what I really need now is a hug from a complete prat."
Lord Percy: After literally an hour's ceaseless searching, I have succeeded in creating gold, pure gold.
Blackadder: Are you sure?
Lord Percy: Yes, my lord. Behold.
Blackadder: Percy... it's green.
Lord Percy: That's right, my lord.
Blackadder: Yes, Percy, I don't want to be pedantic or anything, but the colour of gold is gold. That's why it's *called* gold. What you have discovered, if it has a name, is "green".
Lord Percy: Oh, Edmund, can it be true, that I hold here in my mortal hand a nugget of purest green?
Blackadder: Indeed you do, Percy, except, of course, it's not really a nugget, it's more of a splat.
Lord Percy: Well, yes, a splat today... but tomorrow - who knows, or dares to dream?
Blackadder: So we three alone in all the world can produce the finest green at will?
Lord Percy: Just so. Not sure about counting in Baldrick, actually.

__________________
Science is the antidote to the poison of enthusiasm and superstition

My location

Seriously though, it could be chromhydrosis

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chromhidrosis

Saw this once in a vagrant with mental health problems who was shop-lifting shoe polish and eating it- his was blue btw

__________________
Science is the antidote to the poison of enthusiasm and superstition

My location

Think there's a big market for jewelery which looks like snot do you?

Any chance of getting our leafy hued friend under a woods lamp and see if he/she glows? That might narrow things down.

Robert

Needs must when the devil vomits into your kettle.

__________________
Science is the antidote to the poison of enthusiasm and superstition

My location

Good call.

Australia's very own Dr Karl K (forget it, I can't pronounce it let alone spell it) won an Ignobel Prize for his research into why belly button fluff is always blue - could this be a research opportunity knocking at the door of fate?

Hi
Filamentous anoxygenic phototrophs (formerly known as green non-sulfur bacteria), though some are classified separately as the Thermomicrobia. They are named for their green pigment, usually found in photosynthetic bodies called chlorosomes.
Usually found in large bodies of water though! (your patient's not Man from Atlantis is he?)

I don't know what it is, but the above explanation sounds likely!

I have seen it before and got rid of it very quickly with surgical spirit sprayed onto the area twice a day!

Hope this helps!

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nicpod1

We are pleased to announce a breakthrough in the treatment of Green debris!!!

This debilitating condition affects literally 10s of people worldwide. Until now no effective treatment has been available (other than to quit eating blue shoe polish, do they make polish in flesh tone?). However in the last few weeks the solution has finally been found thanks to diligent day dreaming and naval gazing by our highly trained team.

Rathborts Anti colour orthotics.

The principle is simplicity itself. Light is both a particle and a wave and is therefore affected by gravity (as in black holes). During gait gravity acts on the feet. Colour is a quality of light. Therefore the inescapable concluesion is that altering the patients gait will alter the colour of their feet. QED.

We have not, as yet, any statistically valid proof for this, however it nearly worked on nearly 4 patients so it must be right!! And besides, the cogency of the rational is beyond reproach. These patients who had suffered terribly with jibes and name calling (kermit feet etc) are now free to enjoy their lives.

I know what you are thinking. If this is the case, how come no other orthotics have ever acheived the same results? Well the sucess of the device hinges around the number of times we've used the word Paradigm in our marketing blurb. No other device can match ours!

Terms and conditions apply. The severity of your condition may go up as well as down. Your home may be at risk if you do not tile the roof. Rathborts orthotics ltd plc ivf accept no liability for long term mechanical trauma or short term dissappointment incurred through the use of their product. The terms "Rathborts orthotics" "anti colour insoles" "snake oil","playing on peoples fear and pain to get rich, kerching" and "I have you now mister bond but before i kill you first let me explain the fatal flaw in my plan for world domination mwoa ha ha haaaa" are protected by UN resolution 324. Not applicable in the US from whence the MD legged it rather than limit his golf to putting in prison. Alledgedly. This article is intended as a joke and any resembalance to any actual orthotics company is purely co-incidental. Or not. Save the whales.

lol.lol.lol

my dad has this exact problem ID 4th web space, as kids he used to tell us he had gangrene there........... it was disgusting then!!
i ask someone at uni what this could be and my answer was gram negative bacteria.........
however he's not done a thing about it because it doesn't bother him and his male. it has been there for as long as i ca remember we are talking 20 years, healthy 55 year old male, no bare foot gardening.
i should get on his back and get a culture taken!!!

Robert:

This is one of the classics of Podiatry Arena, right up there with the best of 'em. Thanks for the chuckle. :p

__________________
Sincerely,

Kevin

**************************************************
Kevin A. Kirby, DPM
Adjunct Associate Professor
Department of Applied Biomechanics
California School of Podiatric Medicine at Samuel Merritt College

e-mail: kevinakirby@comcast.net

Private Practice:
107 Scripps Drive, Suite 200
Sacramento, CA 95825 USA
My location

Voice: (916) 925-8111 Fax: (916) 925-8136
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Kind words indeed. :) Laughter is a beautiful thing. The world needs more.

Warmest seasonal cheer.

Robert

Did said pt put up their xmas tree early? In my experience it is likely to be tinsel. Wait for the New Year and you should see a marked improvement in this condition.

Happy xmas!

Unlikly to be the tree. Could be Mistletoe. :)

Oh come on. you were all thinking it!