Investigation of Rifampin to Reduce Pedal Amputations for Osteomyelitis in Diabetics
Status:
Recruiting
Trial end date:
2022-01-22
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
The purpose of this research study is to determine if rifampin, an antibiotic (a medicine
that treats infections), is effective in treating osteomyelitis (infection of the bone) of
the foot in diabetic patients. Despite use of powerful antibiotics prescribed over a long
period of time, many diabetic patients remain at a high risk for needing an amputation of
part of the foot or lower leg because the osteomyelitis is not cured. Some small research
studies have shown that addition of rifampin to other antibiotics is effective in treating
osteomyelitis in both diabetics and non-diabetics. However, because few diabetics with
osteomyelitis have been studied, there is no definite proof that it is better than the usual
treatments for diabetic patients. If this study finds that adding rifampin to the usual
antibiotics prescribed for osteomyelitis reduces the risk for amputations, doctors will be
able to more effectively treat many Veteran patients with this serious infection. Improving
treatment outcomes is an important healthcare goal of the VA.