Diabetic foot infections: A microbiologic review

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Microbiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Diabetes mellitus is a growing global health concern.
• Diabetic foot infections are a leading cause of hospitalization and increased healthcare costs.
• Complications like osteomyelitis often require prolonged antibiotic therapy, contributing to antibiotic resistance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review global literature on microorganisms causing diabetic foot infections.
• To analyze culture methods, incidence, risk factors, resistance patterns, and geographic distribution.
• To inform antibiotic treatment strategies for diabetic foot infections.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review and meta-analysis following PRISMA guidelines.
• Analysis of global literature on diabetic foot infection microbiology.
• Examination of culture methods, incidence, risk factors, and resistance patterns.

Main Results:

• Staphylococcus aureus is a persistent significant pathogen.
• Increasing incidence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and multidrug-resistant (MDR) gram-negative bacilli observed.
• Microbiologic diversity is influenced by patient-specific risk factors.

Conclusions:

• Individualized risk factors are helpful but insufficient alone.
• Local epidemiology and antibiotic resistance patterns are essential for guiding treatment.
• A single empiric antibiotic regimen is not universally appropriate for diabetic foot infections.