Diabetic Foot Infections Questions & Answers

Updated: Jan 16, 2020
  • Author: Michael Stuart Bronze, MD; Chief Editor: Romesh Khardori, MD, PhD, FACP  more...
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Questions & Answers

Overview

How are diabetic foot infections acquired?

What are the types of diabetic foot infections?

What are the symptoms of cellulitis in diabetic foot infections?

What are the symptoms of deep-skin and soft tissue diabetic foot infections?

What are the symptoms of symptoms acute osteomyelitis in diabetic foot infections?

What are symptoms of chronic osteomyelitis in diabetic foot infections?

How is chronic osteomyelitis diagnosed in diabetic foot infections?

How is cellulitis diagnosed in diabetic foot infections?

How are skin and soft tissue infections diagnosed in diabetic foot infections?

How is acute osteomyelitis diagnosed in diabetic foot infections?

What are the treatment options for diabetic foot infections?

Why are diabetics prone to foot infections?

Why are diabetic foot infections difficult to treat?

How do diabetic foot infections develop?

What is the pathogenesis of diabetic foot infections?

What are the microbial characteristics of diabetic foot infections?

How prevalent are diabetic foot infections?

How common is mortality from diabetic foot infections, and what are the risk factors?

What is the prognosis of diabetic foot infections?

What information should patients with diabetic foot infections receive?

Presentation

What is the focus of history in the evaluation of diabetic foot infections?

What are physical findings characteristic of cellulitis in diabetic foot infections?

What are the physical findings suggestive of deep-skin and soft tissue diabetic foot infections?

What are physical findings suggestive of acute osteomyelitis in diabetic foot infections?

What are physical findings suggestive of chronic osteomyelitis in diabetic foot infections?

DDX

Which conditions should be included in the differential diagnoses of diabetic foot infections?

What are the differential diagnoses for Diabetic Foot Infections?

Workup

What is the role of lab studies in the evaluation of diabetic foot infections?

What is the role of imaging studies in the evaluation of diabetic foot infections, and what are the IWGDF workup guidelines?

Which lab results are characteristic of cellulitis in diabetic foot infections?

Which lab results are characteristic of skin and soft tissue diabetic foot infections?

Which lab results and bone scan findings are characteristic of acute osteomyelitis in diabetic foot infections?

What lab results and radiographic findings are characteristic of chronic osteomyelitis in diabetic foot infections?

Which histologic findings aid in the diagnosis of diabetic foot infections?

Treatment

What are important aspects of the Society for Vascular Surgery, American Podiatric Medical Association, and Society for Vascular Medicine treatment guidelines for diabetic foot infections, and what are the IWGDF treatment guidelines?

What are the guidelines for offloading of diabetic foot ulcers?

What is the role of antimicrobial therapy in the treatment of diabetic foot infections?

When is surgical debridement used in the treatment of diabetic foot infections?

Which specialist consultations are needed for the treatment of diabetic foot infections?

What is included in long term monitoring for cellulitis in diabetic foot infections?

What is included in long-term monitoring of deep skin and soft-tissue diabetic foot infections?

What is included in long term monitoring of acute osteomyelitis in diabetic foot infections?

What is included in long term monitoring of chronic osteomyelitis in diabetic foot infections?

Guidelines

What are the guidelines for the management of diabetic foot infection?

Medications

Which medications are used in the treatment of diabetic foot infections?

Which medications in the drug class Cyclic Lipopeptides are used in the treatment of Diabetic Foot Infections?

Which medications in the drug class Anti-Infective Agents are used in the treatment of Diabetic Foot Infections?

Which medications in the drug class Fluoroquinolones are used in the treatment of Diabetic Foot Infections?

Which medications in the drug class Carbapenems are used in the treatment of Diabetic Foot Infections?

Which medications in the drug class Cephalosporins are used in the treatment of Diabetic Foot Infections?

Which medications in the drug class Penicillins are used in the treatment of Diabetic Foot Infections?