title: Wonder of Life (kalanchoe pinnata) leaves to treat diabetic foot infections in Trinidad & Tobago: a case control study.
abstract: : Wonder of Life (kalanchoe pinnata) leaves are commonly used to treat diabetic foot infections. These patients are usually non-compliant with conventional medical therapy. We surmised that these patients would have a higher incidence of treatment failures. Patients admitted with diabetic foot infections were separated into two groups: a Study Group comprised patients who used topical kalanchoe pinnata and a Medical Therapy Group contained patients who were compliant with conventional treatment. The patients were observed over the course of their hospitalisation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 382 patients in the Medical Therapy Group and 96 in the Study Group, who waited 9.21 ± 5.3 days (Mean ± SD) before seeking medical attention. There were similar rates of all amputations (34.8% vs. 37.5%; P = 0.643) and mortality (0.8% vs. 1.0%; P = 1.000) in the Study and Medical Therapy groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There may be value in the use of topical kalanchoe pinnata to treat diabetic foot infections.
authors.affiliation: Senior Lecturer in Surgery, Department of Clinical Surgical Sciences, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, Trinidad and Tobago socawich@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Shamir O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Cawich
authors.affiliation: Lecturer in Surgery, Department of Clinical Surgical Sciences, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, Trinidad and Tobago.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Harnarayan
authors.affiliation: Associate Lecturer in Surgery, Department of Clinical Surgical Sciences, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, Trinidad and Tobago.
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Budhooram
authors.affiliation: Resident in Surgery, Department of Clinical Surgical Sciences, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, Trinidad and Tobago.
authors.forename: Nahmorah J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Bobb
authors.affiliation: Resident in Surgery, Department of Clinical Surgical Sciences, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, Trinidad and Tobago.
authors.forename: Shariful
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Islam
authors.affiliation: Professor of Surgery, Department of Clinical Surgical Sciences, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, Trinidad and Tobago.
authors.forename: Vijay
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Naraynsingh
mesh_terms: D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D031962:Kalanchoe; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008517:Phytotherapy; D018515:Plant Leaves; D014300:Trinidad and Tobago / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Diabetes; amputation; infection; mortality; topical