title: Osteomyelitis in the feet of diabetic patients. Long-term results, prognostic factors, and the role of antimicrobial and surgical therapy.
abstract: Fifty-one diabetic patients with osteomyelitis of the foot were studied to determine potential prognostic factors and the role of antimicrobial therapy. Most of the patients were elderly, with diminished pulses, a sensory neuropathy, and a polymicrobial infection. Twenty-seven patients had a good outcome, defined as clinical resolution at the time of the last follow-up examination, without the need for amputation. The mean duration of follow-up for these patients was 19 months. Fifteen patients had a below-knee amputation, and nine had a toe amputation. The absence of necrosis and/or gangrene, the presence of swelling, and the use of antimicrobial therapy active against the isolated pathogens for at least four weeks intravenously, or combined intravenously and orally for 10 weeks, predicted a good outcome. Diabetic foot osteomyelitis, in the absence of extensive necrosis or gangrene, usually responds to antimicrobial therapy without the need for an ablative surgical procedure.
mesh_terms: D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D004338:Drug Combinations / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005534:Foot Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D011379:Prognosis; D013420:Sulfamethoxazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors; D014295:Trimethoprim / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination; D014295:Trimethoprim; D013420:Sulfamethoxazole