title: Osteomyelitis in the diabetic patient: diagnosis and treatment. Part 2: Medical, surgical, and alternative treatments.
abstract: In the diabetic population, wound and foot infections are often mixed, containing from three to six organisms. This creates a significant problem regarding antibiotic protocols. Many of these episodes result in contiguous bone infections with subsequent erosive changes, sequestra, and involucrum. A multidisciplinary approach to treatment is often required. Studies have shown that a protocol of 6 weeks of intravenous antibiotics may be appropriate to treat osteomyelitis; however, this is controversial and often not curative. Osteomyelitis is a surgical disease; a subtle balance between medical and surgical therapy is necessary if a potentially curative outcome is to be achieved. The duration of antibiotic therapy may be shortened considerably after surgical intervention. In cases of infection mitigated by severe peripheral vascular disease, end-stage renal disease, diabetes, or other medical problems where surgery is not an option, long-term antibiotics may be used as suppressive therapy along with adjunctive local treatments. The following is the second article of a two-part series. The first paper discussed the diagnosis and microbiology of contiguous osteomyelitis in the diabetic foot. This article outlines the various medical, antibiotic, and surgical options available to the clinician. Adjunctive and alternative therapies also are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Wound Healing Center, Northwest Medical Center, Margate, Fla., USA. drwound@aol.com
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Snyder
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Livingston
mesh_terms: D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000379:methods / Q000534:rehabilitation; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003646:Debridement / Q000379:methods; D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D006931:Hyperbaric Oxygenation / Q000379:methods; D015918:Infusion Pumps, Implantable; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy; D010166:Palliative Care
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents