Diabetes is one of the most common and costly chronic diseases in the U.S, affecting more than 22.3 million people and costing more than $245 billion in 2012. Diabetic foot infections are a major complication of diabetes, affecting as many as 25% of patients with diabetes and resulting in $9-$13 billion in costs every year.
A multi-disciplinary group at NMH, consisting of infectious disease specialists, vascular surgery, orthopedic surgery, physical therapy, and hospital medicine was established to streamline diabetic foot infection management, optimize care, and to maximize the likelihood of wound healing.
The following algorithm was established for optimal management:
Diabetic Foot Infection Algorithm
References:
- Rice JB, Desai U, Cummings AKG. Burden of diabetic foot ulcers for Medicare and Private Insurers. Diabetes Care 2014;37(3):651-8.
- Drs. Kari Kreuger, Shannon Galvin, and Ajay Bhasin, “Inpatient Diabetic Foot Infection Management.”