Antimicrobial therapy for diabetic foot infections. A practical approach.

Infection of the diabetic foot is a common problem in clinical practice and is associated with significant morbidity. Optimal management requires a multidisciplinary approach. Aggressive surgical debridement and wound management, carefully chosen antimicrobial therapy, and modification of host factors (i.e., hyperglycemia, concomitant arterial insufficiency) are all equally important for a successful outcome. Empirical antibiotic selection should be followed by culture-guided definitive therapy.