Diabetic foot infections: microbiological aspects, current and future antibiotic therapy focusing on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Int Wound J. 2011 Dec;8(6):567-77. doi: 10.1111/j.1742-481X.2011.00849.x. Epub 2011 Aug 23.

Abstract

Diabetic patients are at increased risk of complicated skin, skin structure and bone infections including infections of diabetic foot ulcerations (DFU). Analyses of epidemiology and microbial pathogenicity show that staphylococci seem to be predestined to induce such infections. In addition, multidrug resistance particularly due to an increasing prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) seems to be the challenge for effective antibiotic therapy. With regard to infections with MRSA, classical agents like vancomycin, linezolid, fosfomycin or trimethroprim-sulphametoxazol might be agents of choice in DFU. New-generation drugs including broad-spectrum tetracyclines like tigecycline, first and second generation of cyclic lipopeptides, anti-MRSA β-lactams including ceftobiprole and anti-MRSA antibodies are developed or in progress and the hope for the future.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Diabetic Foot / drug therapy*
  • Diabetic Foot / microbiology
  • Humans
  • Methicillin Resistance / drug effects*
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / drug effects*
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Staphylococcal Infections / drug therapy*
  • Staphylococcal Infections / microbiology
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Wound Infection / drug therapy*
  • Wound Infection / microbiology

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents