DIABETIC FOOT INFECTIONS;

Abstract

Objective: (1) To evaluate the effects of G-CSF in eliminating infection in diabetic foot wound (2) Tocompare the effects with conventional diabetic foot management. Design: Prospective, open, randomized comparativestudy. Setting: Medical&Surgical Department of Allied, DHQ Hospital & Nawaz Medicare Faisalabad. Period: FromJan 2000 to Nov 2000 Patients & Methods: Fifty diabetic patients with foot infections were included in this study. Themean age was 52 years ranging from 27 to 60 years. They were divided into two equal groups(Group A and Group B).Results: The male patients were 41(82%) and female 9(18%). Forty six percent of patients were on oral hypoglycaemicdrugs, and 54% on insulin. The trauma preceding infection was 20%, Peripheral neuropathy 94% and peripheralvascular disease 34%. Thirty two percent of patients were smoker. Group A were subjected to G-CSF ( Neupogen )therapy (n=25) subcutanously daily for 5days in addition to conventional measures. Whereas patients in Group Breceived only conventional therapy. Both groups received similar antibiotic and insulin treatment. G-CSF therapy wasassociated with earlier eradication of pathogens from the infected ulcer (median 5 [range 2-11] vs11 [6-31] days in thegroup B; (p=<O.000I), quicker resolution of cellulitis (6 vs l4 days; p<O.0001), shorter hospital stay (8 vsl6 days;p<O.000l), and a shorter duration of intravenous antibiotic treatment (7 vs l4 days ;p—0.0001).No G-CSF treatedpatient needed surgery, whereas three patients in group B underwent toe amputation and six had extensivedebridement under anaesthesia (p=0.00 1). G-CSF therapy was generally well tolerated. Conclusion: Granulocytecolony stimulating factor (G-CSF) may be used as a good adjuvant therapy along with conventional measures for themanagement of diabetic foot infection, as it promotes the healing of diabetic foot ulcer/cellulitis and consequentlyprevents many hazardous complications like amputation of limbs, long hospital stays, extensive and prolonged antibioticuse and last but not the least the total misery of the patients.