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Help prevent and treat diabetic foot ulcers

Diabetic Foot Syndrome (DFS)[1,2]

Diabetic foot syndrome (DFS) is a common complication of diabetes mellitus that affects every fourth patient with diabetes at some point in their lifes. The risk of developing DFS increases with age.

 

One of the consequences is skin breakdown or foot ulceration, known as a Diabetic Foot Ulcer (DFU). This condition includes all changes in the foot resulting from diabetic polyneuropathy as well as diabetic micro and macroangiopathic changes.

Infection in Diabetic Foot Ulcers (DFU)​

Did you know?

  • 19- 0%

    of people with diabetes will develop a DFU during their lifetime.[2]

  • More than

    0%

    of such diabetic foot ulcers become infected.[3]

  • Up to

    0%

    of severely infected DFUs lead to osteomyelitis.[4]

Join our webinar and explore best practices in DFU infection management.


Register here

Diabetic Foot Ulcers Infection: Prevention & Treatment​

DFU Infection Management[5,6,7]

Infection in DFU is associated not only with poor or delayed healing but also poses a risk factor for hospitalization. Furthermore, 10% to 45% of patients hospitalized for foot infection require readmission within one year, leading to increased healthcare costs. In individuals with severe infection or osteomyelitis, the probability of amputation rises significantly.[5]​

Diagnosis of DFU is mainly based on clinical signs:[5]

  • Local swelling or induration
  • Erythema
  • Local tenderness or pain
  • Local increased warmth
  • Purulent discharge​

And clinical examination techniques:[6]
 

  • Analysis of inflammatory biomarkers​
  • Probe-to-bone tests
  • Image and lab testing

The severity of diabetic foot infections is classified according to the IWGDF/IDSA classification:[6]

Foot icon with highlighted area on the foot's sole , indicating ulcer location.

Foot icon with a highlighted ulcer and bacteria icons, representing signs of infection.

Foot icon with larger highlighted area and bacteria inset on the bone, indicating moderate infection.

Person icon with a thermometer suggesting severe systemic infection.

Get your free guide to DFU infections


An up-to-date handout guide for treatment and management of diabetic foot ulcer infections, based on the IWGDF/IDSA classification and Dr. Prof. José Luis Lázaro’s clinical experience.

Download here
Two healthcare professionals attending to a digital session about Diabetic Foot Ulcer infections
A man stands next to his doctor, both smile into the camera

Rescue from amputation

Do you know the story of Galo, the man whose foot amputation was avoided by a B. Braun sales rep?

Find out more about how wound management with Prontosan® and Askina® changed the situation.

Read the story

References

  1. Rümenapf G, Morbach S, Rother U, Uhl C, Görtz H, Böckler D, Behrendt CA, Hochlenert D, Engels G, Sigl M; Kommission PAVK und Diabetisches Fußsyndrom der DGG e. V.. Diabetisches Fußsyndrom – Teil 1 : Definition, Pathophysiologie, Diagnostik und Klassifikation [Diabetic foot syndrome-Part 1 : Definition, pathophysiology, diagnostics and classification]. Chirurg. 2021 Jan;92(1):81-94. German. doi: 10.1007/s00104-020-01301-9. PMID: 33170315; PMCID: PMC7819949.
  2. Armstrong DG, Boulton AJM, Bus SA. Diabetic Foot Ulcers and Their Recurrence. N Engl J Med. 2017 Jun 15;376(24):2367-2375
  3. Prompers L, Huijberts M, Apelqvist J, Jude E, Piaggesi A, Bakker K, Edmonds M, Holstein P, Jirkovska A, Mauricio D, Ragnarson Tennvall G, Reike H, Spraul M, Uccioli L,  rbancic V, Van Acker K, van Baal J, van Merode F,  chaper N. High prevalence of ischaemia, infection and  erious comorbidity in patients with diabetic foot disease in Europe. Baseline results from the Eurodiale study.  iabetologia. 2007 Jan;50(1):18-25. doi: 10.1007/s00125-006-0491-1. Epub 2006 Nov 9. PMID: 17093942.
  4. Lázaro Martínez JL, García Álvarez Y, Tardáguila-García A, García Morales E. Optimal management of diabetic foot osteomyelitis: challenges and solutions. Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. 2019 Jun 21;12:947-959. doi: 10.2147/DMSO.S181198. PMID: 31417295; PMCID: PMC6593692.
  5. McDermott K, Fang M, Boulton AJM, Selvin E, Hicks CW. Etiology, Epidemiology, and Disparities in the Burden of Diabetic Foot Ulcers. Diabetes Care. 2023 Jan 1;46(1):209- 221. doi: 10.2337/dci22-0043. PMID: 36548709; PMCID: PMC9797649.
  6. Senneville É, Albalawi Z, van Asten SA, Abbas ZG, Allison G, Aragón-Sánchez J, Embil JM, Lavery LA, Alhasan M, Oz O, Uçkay I, Urbančič-Rovan V, Xu ZR, Peters EJG. IWGDF/IDSA Guidelines on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Diabetes-related Foot Infections (IWGDF/IDSA 2023). Clin Infect Dis. 2023 Oct 2:ciad527.
  7. Based on personal expert opinion by Dr. Prof. José Luis Lázaro, Head of Diabetic Foot Ulcers Unit, Universidad Complutense de Madrid
  8. Malone M, Bjarnsholt T, McBain AJ, James GA, Stoodley P, Leaper D, Tachi M, Schultz G, Swanson T, Wolcott RD. The prevalence of biofilms in chronic wounds: a systematic review and meta-analysis of published data. J Wound Care. 2017 Jan 2;26(1):20-25. doi: 10.12968/jowc.2017.26.1.20. PMID: 28103163​