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Diabetic foot infections: microbiological aspects, current and future antibiotic therapy focusing on

Andreas Ambrosch1, Simone Haefner, Edward Jude

  • 1Institute of Laboratory Medicine and Microbiology, St Joseph Hospital, Bremerhaven, Germany.

International Wound Journal
|September 3, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Diabetic foot infections are often caused by Staphylococcus bacteria, especially drug-resistant MRSA. New antibiotics are being developed to combat these challenging infections effectively.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Dermatology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Diabetic patients face a higher risk of severe skin, skin structure, and bone infections, particularly diabetic foot ulcerations (DFU).
  • Staphylococci are frequently implicated in causing these infections, with increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant strains like methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
  • The rise of MRSA presents a significant challenge for effective antibiotic treatment of DFU infections.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current landscape of antibiotic therapies for MRSA infections in diabetic foot ulcerations.
  • To highlight the challenges posed by multidrug resistance in treating DFU.
  • To discuss existing and emerging therapeutic options for MRSA-related DFU.

Main Methods:

  • Review of epidemiological data on DFU pathogens.
  • Analysis of microbial pathogenicity of staphylococci in DFU.
  • Evaluation of current and novel antibiotic agents against MRSA.

Main Results:

  • Staphylococci, particularly MRSA, are key pathogens in complicated DFU.
  • Established antibiotics like vancomycin and linezolid are options for MRSA DFU.
  • Newer agents including tigecycline, cyclic lipopeptides, ceftobiprole, and antibodies show promise.

Conclusions:

  • Effective management of MRSA in DFU requires careful consideration of antibiotic resistance patterns.
  • Classical agents remain important, but novel therapies offer future hope for treating challenging MRSA DFU.
  • Ongoing research and development are crucial for combating antibiotic resistance in diabetic foot infections.

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