Cath Lab Digest

Final Notes

   It remains to be seen what constitutes a gold standard of treatment of osteomyelitis. At present, there is no one antibiotic that has been proven to be far and away better than another. Evidence-based studies do not support the use of parenteral only therapy but rather give credence to the use of oral only therapy with highly bioavailable agents directed against biopsy recovered pathogens. The idea that small colony variants of S. aureus could evade host defenses, culture and antibiotics by remaining dormant in bone cells is an intriguing area of study, which will no doubt evolve over the years to come.

   The diagnosis and management of lower extremity bone infections in diabetic and non-diabetic patients is on the verge of a breakthrough period, which should eventually result in better treatment outcomes for our patients.

Mr. Hoffman is a fourth-year student at the New York College of Podiatric Medicine.

Dr. Khan is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medical Sciences at the New York College of Podiatric Medicine.

Dr. Kosinski is a Professor in the Department of Medical Sciences at the New York College of Podiatric Medicine.

Dr. Steinberg is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Plastic Surgery at the Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C. Dr. Steinberg is a Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.

For further reading, see “What The Literature Reveals About Diabetic Foot Osteomyelitis” in the March 2009 issue of Podiatry Today.

To access the archives or get reprint information, visit www.podiatrytoday.com.

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