Dalbavancin Promising in Diabetes-Related Foot Osteomyelitis

A recent study finds the potential of the antibiotic dalbavancin in managing diabetes-related foot osteomyelitis, a severe complication affecting patients with diabetes. The findings were published in journal of Infectious Diseases Now.

A total of thirteen patients were included from January 2019 to December 2021, a substantial 85% underwent surgical treatment, underlining the severity of the cases involved. Also, this research encompassed consecutive patients receiving at least one 1500 mg dose of dalbavancin. Dalbavancin was administered as the first-line treatment in 46% of the cases, while 54% received it as a second-line option, required by adverse events linked to prior treatments.

The study reported just one adverse event, highlighting the overall well-tolerated nature of dalbavancin. After a rigorous 6-month follow-up period from the last dalbavancin dose, the findings revealed that 82% of the evaluable patients achieved remission. Remission was defined as the absence of relapsing infection or the need for surgery at the initial or a contiguous site.

These promising results suggest that dalbavancin holds potential as an effective and safe treatment option for diabetes-related foot osteomyelitis, especially when considering its favorable tolerability and notable efficacy in both microbiological and clinical aspects.

Diabetes-related foot osteomyelitis poses a significant health risk to individuals with diabetes, often requiring intricate management strategies. The findings on dalbavancin provide good hope, offering a potential avenue for enhanced treatment outcomes. The efficacy of the antibiotics, coupled with its tolerability profile, positions it as a special candidate in the evolving landscape of diabetes-related complications. Further research and larger-scale trials are anticipated to solidify these preliminary findings, paving the way for more effective and targeted treatments in the realm of diabetic foot complications.

Reference: 

Boucher, A., Pradier, M., Lafondesmurs, B., Thill, P., Patoz, P., Blondiaux, N., Joulie, D., Hennart, B., Robineau, O., & Senneville, E. (2024). Dalbavancin as salvage therapy in difficult-to-treat patients for diabetes-related foot osteomyelitis. In Infectious Diseases Now (Vol. 54, Issue 1, p. 104835). Elsevier BV. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.idnow.2023.104835