EFFICACY OF SULBACTAM-AMPICILLIN FOR THE TREATMENT OF SEVERE DIABETICFOOT INFECTIONS

Diabetic foot infections, a frequent and serious cause of morbidity in patients with diabetes mellitus, are caused by anaerobic and aerobic bacteria Given the fact that seriously impaired host defense factors a re almost always present in these patients, bactericidal agents with a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity are required for their treat ment. Seventy-four patients with diabetic foot infections were treated with parenteral sulbactam-ampicillin (1.5%, q.i.d.). Ah patients were followed-up prospectively in order to determine the efficacy and safe ty of sulbctam-ampicillin. The mean duration (+/-SD) of treatment in p atients with osteomyelitis (n=49) and soft tissue infections (n=25) wa s 41+/-5 and 14+/-3 days, respectively. Infected limbs were amputated at various levels in 14 patients (19%). Clinical cure rates were 86% a nd 100% in patients with osteomyelitis and with soft tissue infection, respectively. The most frequent side effect was diarrhea and observed in 10 patients (14%). The results of the present study indicate that sulbactam-ampicillin is safe and effective in the treatment of diabeti c foot infections.