Lesson 1Key history points: high blood sugar, ulcer duration, past ulcers or amputations, body symptomsYou will spot vital history details for suspected diabetic foot infections, like ulcer start, previous sores or amputations, body symptoms, sugar control, and recent antibiotics, to gauge seriousness and plan urgent tests.
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 management: starting antibiotics, swab methods, pressure relief, dressings, sugar control teamworkYou will organise the first day of hospital care, including starting antibiotics, correct swab methods, urgent pressure relief, dressing picks, pain relief, and linking sugar management with the ward team.
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: full blood count, CRP, blood swabs, HbA1c, X-rays, MRI when neededThis lesson explains right lab and scan checks, including full blood count, CRP, ESR, blood swabs, HbA1c, X-rays, and when to use MRI, CT, or ultrasound for bone infection, pus pockets, and gas in tissues.
Baseline inflammatory and sepsis labsRole of HbA1c and metabolic markersPlain radiographs and typical findingsMRI indications for osteomyelitisWhen to use CT or ultrasound imagingLesson 4How diabetic foot infections and numb ulcers developThis lesson reviews how numb ulcers and infections arise in diabetes, linking high sugar, nerve damage, poor blood flow, and weak immunity to patterns that shape risk checks and treatments.
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 specialists, infection experts, vessel surgeons, and wound teamsYou will learn to link care with sugar specialists, infection experts, vessel surgeons, and wound teams, defining roles, referral signs, and communication to boost results and cut problems.
When to involve endocrinology servicesConsulting infectious disease specialistsReferral criteria for vascular surgeryWorking with wound care and podiatryStructured multidisciplinary case reviewsLesson 6Targeted foot and leg exam: probe-to-bone, depth, tunnels, nerve tests (10g filament), leg pulsesThis lesson details a planned foot and leg exam, with looking, feeling, probe-to-bone, depth and tunnel checks, nerve screening with 10g filament, and blood flow check with foot pulses.
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 7Discharge plans: clinic wound care, pressure relief gear, shoe scripts, sugar follow-upYou will plan safe going-home for diabetic foot infection patients, with clinic wound setups, pressure relief gear, shoe scripts, sugar checks, teaching on danger signs, and return rules.
Assessing readiness and safety for dischargeCoordinating outpatient wound care visitsPrescribing offloading devices and footwearScheduling diabetes and glycemic follow-upPatient education on recurrence preventionLesson 8Wound grading systems and seriousness scores (IDSA, IWGDF, University of Texas)You will compare main wound grading and score systems like IDSA, IWGDF, and University of Texas, applying them to sort risks, standardise records, and set care level and treatment strength.
IDSA infection severity categoriesIWGDF risk and infection gradingUniversity of Texas wound stagingLinking scores to treatment pathwaysUsing scores for communication and auditLesson 9Signs and timing for surgery cleaning or amputation, and around-surgery careThis lesson lists signs and timing for surgery cleaning or amputation, with triggers, urgency, pre-surgery prep, anaesthesia notes, and after-surgery limb saving and recovery plans.
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, smart antibiotic use, regular checks and recordsThis lesson shares standard wound care rules, dressing choices, cleaning timing, smart antibiotic rules, and ways for regular checks, photos, and records to track healing and adjust plans.
Standardized bedside wound assessmentChoosing dressings by exudate and depthFrequency and methods of debridementAntibiotic de-escalation and durationSerial photography and EMR documentation
