Diabetes is a major health concern both globally and within the United States. It is estimated that >37 million people have diabetes in the United States alone (1). Complications from diabetes, such as diabetic foot infection (DFI), continue to be a primary contributor of morbidity and mortality. In 2018, there were 154,000 hospital discharges for patients with diabetes and a lower-extremity amputation (1).
“Diabetic foot infection” is a broad term that refers to a constellation of conditions involving the feet of people with diabetes. DFIs arise when there is an initial trauma to the foot such as calluses, dry skin, or an unperceived repetitive injury. This trauma compromises the skin integrity and, in the presence of ischemia and peripheral neuropathy, can further progress to an ulcer or a deeper infection involving skin structures or even bone (2).
Classically, DFIs have been characterized as polymicrobial....
