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Current medical management of diabetic foot infections

Mark A Kosinski1, Benjamin A Lipsky

  • 1Division of Medical Sciences, New York College of Podiatric Medicine, 53 East 124th Street, New York, NY 10035, USA. mkosins@nycpm.edu

Expert Review of Anti-Infective Therapy
|November 16, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Diabetic foot infections require tailored antibiotic strategies. Newer and standard antibiotics are evaluated for treating these complex infections, including bone infections, to improve outcomes and prevent amputations.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Diabetology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Diabetic foot infections are a severe complication with significant morbidity and mortality.
  • Mild infections may be treated with narrow-spectrum antibiotics targeting staphylococci and streptococci.
  • Chronic, severe, or treatment-resistant infections necessitate broad-spectrum antibiotic coverage.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review standard and novel antibiotic agents for diabetic foot infections.
  • To discuss antibiotics for diabetic foot osteomyelitis, a common complication.
  • To highlight emerging agents for complex diabetic foot infections.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of antibiotic therapies for diabetic foot infections.
  • Analysis of current evidence on antibiotic selection, route, and duration.
  • Examination of established and investigational antibiotic agents.

Main Results:

  • Antibiotic choice depends on infection severity, chronicity, and prior treatment.
  • Diabetic foot osteomyelitis often requires extended or specialized antibiotic therapy.
  • Several standard (ertapenem, vancomycin) and newer agents (dalbavancin, ceftobiprole) show promise.

Conclusions:

  • Optimizing antibiotic therapy is crucial for managing diabetic foot infections.
  • Nonsurgical treatment of diabetic foot osteomyelitis is increasingly viable.
  • Further research is needed to define optimal antibiotic regimens for diabetic foot infections.

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