Classification of diabetic foot infections

The treatment of diabetic foot ulcers is first determined by the presence or absence of infection. Whereas noninfected ulcers typically respond to pressure relief and debridement, the treatment of infected ulcers depends on the degree of systemic involvement and the type and number of invading pathogens. This is the basis of the new classification system proposed by the Infectious Diseases Society of America and briefly described herein. The full report should be available later this year in Clinical Infectious Diseases.