Diabetic foot infection – diagnosis and treatment

Abstract

Diabetic foot (DF) is one of the most serious complications of diabetes, leading to high morbidity and mortality in patients with diabetes, significantly affecting their quality of life and placing a huge burden on the healthcare system. Diabetic foot infection (DFI) is a major factor in the non-healing of diabetic ulcerations of the lower limbs, increases the number of hospital admissions, prolongs their duration and is a frequent cause of increased number of amputations. The most serious form of foot infection is osteomyelitis. Management of infection in SDN includes proper diagnosis, including obtaining appropriate specimens for culture, indication of rational antimicrobial therapy or early surgical intervention, and provision of all other necessary wound care and overall patient care to prevent recurrence of DFI.