Management of wound infection, particularly in the setting of a diabetic foot ulcer, is a constant challenge to the busy wound care clinician. When it comes to my “go to” recommendation for management of diabetic foot infections I look to the IDSA guidelines. The Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) is a group of clinicians who specialize in infectious disease and periodically publish guidelines to help improve patient care for specific infectious diseases.

The most current revision of the IDSA guidelines was published in June of 2012. The IDSA guidelines provide a comprehensive but simple to use set of guidelines for management of the infected diabetic foot.  Infections are classified into mild, moderate and severe using simple to apply physical exam and clinical findings. These infectious classifications then aid the guidance of initial management including break-points for hospitalization, when to use oral or parenteral therapy, duration of therapy and when to consider surgical intervention and amputation.

This guideline is a “must read” for any serious wound care provider who wishes to approach their patient’s infection in the most consistent and evidenced based manner possible. My personal copy hangs on my cork board in my office for handy reference.

2012 Infectious Diseases Society of America Clinical Practice Guideline for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Diabetic Foot Infections, Clin Infect Dis. (2012) 54 (12): e132-e173