Calcium sulphate as a drug delivery system in a deep diabetic foot infection

A clinical case study presenting a patient with type 2 diabetes and a limb threatening foot infection complicated by osteomyelitis. Emergency surgery was required which involved incision and drainage, thorough suction irrigation and packing with STIMULAN beads which were used as a carrier material for vancomycin and gentamicin. Oral antibiotic administration was continued for 8 weeks allowing discharge from hospital. The patient was reviewed twice weekly, and at 3 months both the plantar ulcer and dorsal surgical wound had healed, with full recovery noted at 4 months. At 11 months follow-up the patient remains healed. The outcome demonstrates that STIMULAN when used as a carrier material for antibiotics is an effective adjunct in deep diabetic foot infections. The abstract can be read, and the full paper can be obtained here.