Management of patients hospitalized for diabetic foot infection: results of the French OPIDIA study.

Aim: This study was an analysis of how diabetic patients with infected foot wounds are managed in hospital by departments specializing in diabetic foot pathology, including an evaluation of the outcome 1 year after discharge.

Methods: This was a prospective study of a cohort of patients hospitalized for diabetic foot infection at 38 hospital centres in France and followed-up for 1 year after discharge.

Results: Altogether, 291 patients were included (73% male; 85% type 2 diabetes; mean age: 64.3±11.7 years). Most of the wounds were located on the toes and forefoot, and infection was most often graded as moderate; nevertheless, in about 50% of patients, osteomyelitis was suspected. Also, 87% of patients had peripheral neuropathy and 50-62% had peripheral artery disease. Gram-positive cocci, and Staphylococcus aureus in particular, were by far the most frequently isolated microorganisms. During hospitalization, lower-limb amputation was performed in 35% of patients; in 52%, the wound healed or had a favourable outcome. A year after discharge, 150 non-amputated patients were examined: at this time, 19% had to undergo amputation, whereas 79% had healed their wounds with no relapse. Risk factors for amputation were location (toes), severity of the wound and presence of osteomyelitis. Peripheral artery disease was associated with a poor prognosis, yet was very often neglected.

Conclusion: In spite of being managed at specialized centres that were, in general, following the agreed-upon published guidelines, the prognosis for diabetic foot infection remains poor, with a high rate (48%) of lower-limb amputation.