Lesson 1Key history points: high blood sugar, ulcer length, past ulcers or limb losses, body symptomsStudents will spot main history points for suspected diabetic foot infections, covering ulcer start, previous wounds or limb losses, body symptoms, sugar control, and recent drugs, to gauge seriousness and direct quick tests in Botswana.
Characterizing ulcer onset and durationPrior ulcers, amputations, and surgeriesRecent trauma, footwear, and pressure historySystemic symptoms and sepsis red flagsMedication, antibiotic, and allergy reviewLesson 2First 24-hour hospital handling: starting antibiotics, sample methods, relief strategies, dressing options, sugar control teamworkStudents will plan the initial 24 hours of hospital care, including starting antibiotic choices, correct sample methods, urgent relief, dressing options, pain relief, and sugar management teamwork with the inpatient team in Botswana.
Risk-based empiric antibiotic selectionObtaining deep tissue and bone culturesImmediate offloading and bed rest ordersSelecting initial dressings and topical careCoordinating insulin and glycemic controlLesson 3Lab and scans: blood count, CRP, blood samples, HbA1c, simple X-rays, MRI needs and useThis part explains suitable lab and scan checks, including blood count, CRP, ESR, blood samples, HbA1c, simple X-rays, and MRI, CT, or ultrasound needs to find bone infections, pus pockets, and gas in tissues in Botswana hospitals.
Baseline inflammatory and sepsis labsRole of HbA1c and metabolic markersPlain radiographs and typical findingsMRI indications for osteomyelitisWhen to use CT or ultrasound imagingLesson 4Body processes of diabetic foot infection and nerve-related ulcersThis part reviews processes causing nerve-related ulcers and infections in diabetes, linking high sugar, nerve damage, poor blood flow, and weak immunity to patterns that guide risk grouping and treatment in Botswana.
Impact of chronic hyperglycemia on tissuesPeripheral neuropathy and loss of protectionMicrovascular and macrovascular ischemiaImmune dysfunction and infection riskBiofilm formation in chronic foot woundsLesson 5Teamwork with sugar experts, infection specialists, blood vessel surgeons, and wound teamsStudents will learn to coordinate with sugar experts, infection specialists, blood vessel surgeons, and wound teams, defining roles, referral signs, and communication ways to improve results and cut issues in Botswana hospitals.
When to involve endocrinology servicesConsulting infectious disease specialistsReferral criteria for vascular surgeryWorking with wound care and podiatryStructured multidisciplinary case reviewsLesson 6Targeted foot and leg check: probe-to-bone, depth, side paths, nerve testing (10g thread), leg pulsesThis part details a planned foot and leg check, including looking, feeling, probe-to-bone testing, depth and side path checks, nerve screening with 10g thread, and blood flow check with foot pulses in Botswana settings.
Systematic visual inspection of the footProbe-to-bone technique and interpretationMeasuring wound depth and sinus tracts10 g monofilament neuropathy testingPalpation and grading of pedal pulsesLesson 7Release planning: clinic wound care, relief tools, shoe advice, sugar follow-upStudents will plan safe release for diabetic foot infection patients, including clinic wound care, relief tools, shoe advice, sugar follow-up, teaching on danger signs, and rules for quick return in Botswana.
Assessing readiness and safety for dischargeCoordinating outpatient wound care visitsPrescribing offloading devices and footwearScheduling diabetes and glycemic follow-upPatient education on recurrence preventionLesson 8Wound grouping systems and seriousness scores (IDSA, IWGDF, University of Texas)Students will compare main wound grouping and seriousness score systems, including IDSA, IWGDF, and University of Texas, and use them to group risks, standardise records, and direct care level and treatment strength in Botswana.
IDSA infection severity categoriesIWGDF risk and infection gradingUniversity of Texas wound stagingLinking scores to treatment pathwaysUsing scores for communication and auditLesson 9Rules and times for surgery cleaning or limb removal and around-surgery notesThis part outlines rules and times for surgery cleaning or limb removal, including signs, urgency levels, around-surgery improvements, sleep method notes, and after-surgery limb saving and recovery planning in Botswana hospitals.
Indications for urgent surgical debridementCriteria for limited versus major amputationPreoperative risk assessment and optimizationAntibiotic timing around the operationPostoperative wound and limb salvage plansLesson 10Wound care rules, germ drug care, repeated checks and recordsThis part presents standard wound care rules, dressing choices, cleaning times, germ drug care basics, and ways for repeated checks, photos, and records to track healing and direct changes in Botswana.
Standardized bedside wound assessmentChoosing dressings by exudate and depthFrequency and methods of debridementAntibiotic de-escalation and durationSerial photography and EMR documentation
