DIABETIC FOOT INFECTIONS

Course overview

THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 29 MILLION PEOPLE WITH DIABETES IN THE UNITED STATES, AND APPROXIMATELY 25% OF PEOPLE OLDER THAN AGE OF 65 HAVE DIABETES. THE INCIDENCE OF DIABETES WORLDWIDE IS PROJECTED TO INCREASE BY 55% OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS, SO THIS PROBLEM IS ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE. APPROXIMATELY 75% OF DIABETIC NEUROPATHIES IS DISTAL SYMMETRIC POLYNEUROPATHY (DSP). ONCE PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY DEVELOPS THE ANNUAL INCIDENCE OF ULCER FORMATION INCREASES FROM LESS THAN ONE PERCENT TO GREATER THAN 7%. THE THREE-YEAR MORTALITY FOR PEOPLE WITH DIABETES INCREASES FROM 13% TO 28% WITH AN ULCER. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF DIABETIC FOOT INFECTIONS AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN ITS MANAGEMENT.