Role Of Procalcitonin On Osteomyelitis And Soft Tissue Infection In Diabetic Foot Ulcers

Abstract

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) are responsible for more hospitalizations than any other complication of diabetes and common cause of mortality and morbidity.  The spectrum of diabetic foot infection is wide, ranging from cellulitis and soft tissue infection to osteomyelitis. Diabetes (DM) is the leading cause of non-traumatic lower extremity amputations. Serum procalcitonin levels can be used to guide treatment in primary care and the intensive care unit. Procalcitonin levels (PCT) fall with successful treatment of severe bacterial infection and severe non-infectious inflammatory stimuli. However, in the cases of diabetic foot infection, inflammatory markers combined to extracted findings of clinical assessment seem to be of great importance in the diagnosis and treatment. The diagnostic performance of PCT in diabetic foot infection had not been elucidated in extent previously. Its diagnostic role is uncertain, while a limited number of studies are available in this regard. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to review the role of PCT on osteomyelitis and soft tissue infection in DFU.