A purulent foot ulcer in a man with diabetes mellitus

摘要

A 60-year-old man with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus and associated neuropathy presents to his family doctor with a wound on the plantar aspect of his left foot. He has no history of foot ulcers. The ulcerating wound, which has been present for 6 weeks, has recently become purulent and foul smelling. The physician feels underlying bone when probing the ulcer with a sterile instrument. A superficial swab of the wound is performed, from which methicillin-susceptible Staphylo-coccus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are isolated. The physician considers the relevant components of the management of this patient's condition.