Usefulness of Procalcitonin in Diagnosing Diabetic Foot Osteomyelitis

A Pilot Study

Venkat N. Vangaveti, PhD; Oliver G. Heyes, MD; Shaurya Jhamb, MD; Nagaraja Haleagrahara, PhD; Usman H. Malabu, MD, FACP, FRACP

Disclosures

Wounds. 2021;33(7):192-196.

Conclusions

In conclusion, this research reports a significantly high level of PCT in patients with DFO with good sensitivity and specificity in differentiating it from diabetic foot cellulitis. A larger study should be conducted to confirm the findings. In addition, a detailed economic analysis would be helpful to determine the use of PCT as a diagnostic test in patients with infected diabetic foot ulcers.

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Table 1. Baseline Characteristics of Patients
VARIABLE	OSTEOMYELITIS (n=19) (%)	CONTROL (n=18) (%)	P VALUE	OR (95% CI)
Sex, m	84.2	61.1	.15	3.6 (0.7–16.1)
Age, y	62.0±12	65.0±8.0	.5^a	^_b
Indigenous identified	33.3	16.7	.4	0.4 (0.08–1.9)
Current alcohol consumption	28.0	33.3	1.0	0.7 (0.2–3.4)
Current smoker	5.6	20.0	.3	0.2 (0.02–2.5)
Type 1 diabetes	26.3	11.1	.4	2.8 (0.5–2.0)
Type 2 diabetes	73.7	89.0	.4	0.3 (0.05–2.0)
Insulin	84.2	73.3	.7	1.9 (0.4–11.1)
Took OHAs	50.0	67.0	.3	0.5 (0.12–2.0)
Retinopathy	79.0	69.0	.7	1.7 (0.37–8.3)
Dyslipidemia	59.0	79.0	.3	0.4 (0.1–2.0)
CAD	33.3	47.0	.5	0.6 (0.2–2.5)
PVD	59.0	40.0	.5	2.1 (0.52–9.0)
Amputation (non-traumatic)	59.0	47.0	.7	1.6 (0.41–6.6)
HTN	89.0	86.0	1.0	1.4 (0.2–10.0)
Neutrophils (×10⁹/L)	3.6±2.6	2.4±1.1	.1^a	_^b
Platelets (×10⁹/L)	155.0±73.0	139.0±106.5	.6^a	–^b
Monocytes (×10⁹/L)	0.52±0.24	0.30±0.12	.1^a	–^b
Lymhocytes (×10⁹/L)	0.37±0.21	0.50±0.23	.1^a	–^b

^aCalculated with Student's t test
^bNot applicable
OR: odds ratio; M: male; y: year(s); OHAs: oral hypoglycemic agents; CAD: coronary artery disease; PVD: peripheral vascular disease; HTN: hypertension