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Foot Infections Can Be Difficult to Treat
What is the problem and what is known about it so far?
Foot problems are common in people with diabetes. Diabetes can cause nerve damage that leads to a loss of feeling in the feet. This means ordinary foot injuries can go unnoticed until they become serious. People with diabetes can also have blood circulation problems that cause pain in the legs and feet and keep foot sores from healing easily. Because of these problems, people with diabetes are more likely to get serious infections that can lead to foot or leg amputations.
Why did the researchers do this particular study?
The researchers wanted to learn more about diabetes-related foot infections and what factors may make them harder to treat.
Who was studied?
The study included 379 people with diabetes-related foot infections who sought treatment from a diabetes foot care unit of an Australian hospital during a 2-year period.
How was the study done?
Researchers collected tissue samples from patients with foot infections and examined them to find out what types of bacteria were present. They also tested the patients for kidney disease and gathered information about how long they had had a foot infection and whether they had been in the hospital for its treatment.
What did the researchers find?
Nearly two-thirds of the wounds had infections, and nearly one-fourth had very serious infections. Patients who had had their wounds for a long time, who had kidney disease, or who had been in the hospital for treatment were more likely to get serious infections. Patients who had wounds for a long time or who had been in the hospital were also more likely to have complex infections involving multiple types of bacteria that are resistant to treatment.
What are the implications of the study?
Patients with diabetes-related foot infections who have had their infections for longer than 6 weeks, who have been in the hospital, or who have kidney disease may benefit from starting antibiotics that fight serious infection even before tests confirm that they have specific types of bacteria. It is important to prevent the spread of bacteria to foot wounds by finding and treating wounds early, getting care outside of hospitals when possible, and practicing good hand-washing and other hygiene measures.
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