Key risk factors for diabetic foot reinfections uncovered in UT Health San Antonio study

A study published in the International Wound Journal conducted by researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio) revealed risk factors for reinfection after treatment of a diabetic foot infection. The study found nearly half of patients who receive treatment for diabetic foot infections will experience reinfection.

Lawrence A. Lavery, DPM, MPH, a diabetic foot specialist and professor of orthopaedics at the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine’s Division of Podiatry at UT Health San Antonio, led the study, conducting his research on high-risk populations in Texas.

Lavery found nearly half of patients with diabetic foot infections experienced reinfection after treatment. Patients who had wounds that took longer than three months to heal were at significantly increased risk of reinfection. Patients who suffered from bone infections were more likely to face complications than those with soft tissue infections. The research provided insight into improved approaches to preventing and managing diabetic foot infections, which is one of the most common reasons a patient with diabetes will be admitted to the hospital.

“This is a call for us to be more aggressive about treating complex wounds so we prevent infection, create better ways to monitor infection and better ways to be proactive about using new technology,” said Lavery. “It’s a great opportunity to bring evidence-based medicine to the clinic and to the patients and their families.”

Lee C. Rogers, DPM, chief of podiatry at UT Health San Antonio, emphasized the importance of proactive care in reducing reinfection rates and preventing diabetic foot ulcers from worsening.

“At UT Health San Antonio, we are focused on providing comprehensive, patient-centered care to prevent complications before they start,” said Rogers. “By integrating advanced wound care techniques, personalized treatment plans and cutting-edge technology, we are making a tangible difference in the lives of our patients. Our goal is to keep people on their feet, out of the hospital and living healthier, more active lives.”

The research team studied eight years of patient data, tracking 294 individuals hospitalized for moderate to severe diabetic foot infections. The study included patients between the ages of 18 and 89, with a median age of 53, and 75% of them were men. For an additional 12-month period, rates of reinfection in the soft tissue or bone of the foot were also monitored.

The results confirmed patients whose wounds took longer to heal were three times more likely to experience reinfection, while those whose wounds healed completely had a much lower risk. Unhealed wounds meant more foot-related hospital visits and longer stays. Recognizing these risk factors and intervening early could help stop the cycle of infection, reinfection, amputation, re-amputation and even early death.

Additionally, the research found a troubling trend among younger adults. Individuals in their 30s are developing diabetes-related complications earlier than expected. This shift was due to increasing rates of obesity, high blood pressure and other comorbidities that accelerated the onset of diabetic complications.

According to the American Diabetes Association, one in six people in San Antonio has type 2 diabetes and a third of residents are prediabetic. Texas has one of the highest rates of diabetes in the country with more than 2.7 million Texans diagnosed with the disease. Type 2 diabetes can lead to foot ulcers, which, if untreated, can become infected and result in hospitalization or even amputation. Understanding the importance of foot health plays a critical role in preventing diabetes-related complications.

Lavery emphasized specialized prevention, offering comprehensive care, education, early intervention, multidisciplinary treatment strategies, plus cutting-edge technologies and evidence-based medicine, can help break the cycle of diabetic foot complications.

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The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio) is one of the country’s leading health science universities and is designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education. With missions of teaching, research, patient care and community engagement, its schools of medicine, nursing, dentistry, health professions, graduate biomedical sciences and public health have graduated more than 43,886 alumni who are leading change, advancing their fields and renewing hope for patients and their families throughout South Texas and the world. To learn about the many ways “We make lives better®,” visit UTHealthSA.org.

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