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The Diabetic Foot pp 331–346Cite as

Microbiology and Treatment of Diabetic Foot Infections

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Part of the book series: Contemporary Diabetes ((CDI))

Abstract

Foot infections in diabetic patients are a major source of morbidity and an important proximate cause of amputations. These infections can be categorized clinically as limb threatening or non-limb threatening. The former are often caused by Staphylococcus aureus (often methicillin-resistant) and group B streptococci while the latter by these organisms and gram-negative bacilli and anaerobes. Multidrug-resistant pathogens are found in chronic infections, especially after exposure to health care and antibiotics. Effective treatment combines appropriate antimicrobial therapy with wound management and, if needed, surgical debridement. Osteomyelitis is common, often requiring surgical debridement for effective therapy. Although aspects of care could be refined by additional study, current evidence is sufficient to prevent or effectively treat most of these infections.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Infectious Diseases, Lowry Medical Office Building, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 110 Francis Street, Suite GB, Boston, MA, 02215, USA

    Adolf W. Karchmer MD

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  1. Adolf W. Karchmer MD
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Correspondence to Adolf W. Karchmer MD .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Center, Department of Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical, 1 Deaconess Road, Boston, 02215, Massachusetts, USA

    Aristidis Veves

  2. , Division of Podiatry, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 1 Deaconess Road, Boston, 02215, Massachusetts, USA

    John M. Giurini

  3. Center, Department of Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical, 110 Francis Street, Boston, 02215, Massachusetts, USA

    Frank W. LoGerfo

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Karchmer, A.W. (2012). Microbiology and Treatment of Diabetic Foot Infections. In: Veves, A., Giurini, J., LoGerfo, F. (eds) The Diabetic Foot. Contemporary Diabetes. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-791-0_18

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-791-0_18

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