Item
#6
Diabetes-Associated
Amputations Deemed Avoidable With Antibiotic Therapy
A
significant percentage of amputations stemming from complications of
diabetes could be avoided by early and proper treatment with
antibiotics, according to a German researcher.
Bacterial
infections play a role in about 40% of all diabetic foot
syndrome-related amputations according to Dr. Bernd Drewelow, director
of the Institute for Clinical Pharmacology at the University of
Rostock.
"Using
antibiotics to treat diabetic foot syndrome could save a lot of
feet," he said. He estimates that 20% to 50% of amputations due
bacterial infections could be avoided with early and proper treatment
with antibiotics.
But
many physicians treating diabetic foot syndrome are not knowledgeable
about the possibility of infection, Dr. Drewelow said. "I think
this is a problem all over the world," he said.
Dr.
Drewelow and his team have been focusing on two newer antibiotics,
linezolid and moxifloxacin.
Because
of poor circulation in the feet, many antibiotics are not able to
reach the infected areas at effective levels, he said. Emphasizing
that further research is necessary, he said that early evidence
suggests linezolid and moxifloxacin in some cases can reach the
infected areas at concentrations high enough to be effective.
Furthermore,
the two agents appear to be effective against some of the most common
bacteria associated with diabetic foot syndrome.
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DID
YOU KNOW: Children
could be eligible for Free or Low-Cost Health Insurance:
If
you don’t have insurance, your children could be eligible for free
or low-cost health insurance, which is available in each state through
the Department of Health and Human Services.
The program, which insures children through age 18, is
available even if you have a job—although there are income
limitations for eligibility.
Among
other things, the insurance pays for doctor visits, prescriptions and
hospitalizations. For
more info call 877-543-7669 or log on to www.insurekidsnow.gov/states.htm
and click on your state.
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Coming
Soon:
A1cNow will be available
without a prescription very shortly, Stay tuned.
www.a1cnow.net
