Hand Infection in Diabetic Patients

Abstract

The diabetic hand infection is less reported in the literature. Therefore, it is easily ignored and underestimated resulting in increased morbidity among the diabetic population. Diabetic hand is a rapid in progression, extensive and severe tissue destruction. We analyze the clinical course and outcome of hand infection in diabetic patients. We reviewed all the admissions with hand infection from January 2006-April 2010. Thirty-seven patients were found with associated diabetes mellitus. The demographic data, culture report, number of operations and management, hospital stay and outcome-like amputation were recorded. The average age was 62 years. Pain and swelling were the chief complaints. The cause of infection was varied. The infection was superficial in 13 and deep in 24 patients. Forty-one percent of culture report revealed polymicrobial organism. The increased length of hospital stay, reoperations and amputation were associated with deep infection and polymicrobial organism. Prompt medical and surgical attentions are the most important factors. A proper glycemic control, elevation of the affected extremity, thorough and adequate surgical debridement and appropriate antibiotics are the important considerations when dealing with diabetic hand infection.

Risk Factors of Community-Associated Infections in Chinese Patients With Diabetes: A Meta-analysis

“…In detail, the study showed that beside cardiovascular causes and cancer, infectious diseases substantially contribute to the reduced life expectancy of diabetic people. [1,2,15,16] Diabetics were prone to suffer from infections, the mechanisms of which may be as follow: [17][18][19] 1. The body's defense system was weakened: Each stage of the body's defense to invading microorganisms was suppressed in diabetics, including leukocyte chemotaxis, phagocytosis, weakened intracellular bactericidal effect, neutralized toxin, decreased serum opsonin and cellular immune function, etc., 2.…”

Hand infection in patients with diabetes: a series of 17 cases and a pooled analysis of the literature

“…In the study, the numerical information found for all data was given in proportion to the total number of patients whose data were available. A total of 32 studies were included in the analysis (1,(5)(6)(7).…”

Auswirkung der verspäteten Vorstellung von Handinfektionen beim Handchirurgen – eine retrospektive Single-Center-Studie von 379 Patienten

“…Meist sind es kleine Traumata mit kleineren Wunden, die zur Infektionen der Hand führen [4]. Infektionen der Hand haben ein sehr variables Erscheinungsbild von kleinen lokalen bis hin zu rapiden progressiven Verläufen [5]. Aufgrund der komplexen Anatomie der Hand mit ihren Kompartimenten, die durch bradytrophe Verteilungsräume mit limitierter Infektabwehr sowie Kommunikation wichtiger funktioneller Strukturen gekennzeichnet ist, kann eine Infektion zu erheblichen Funktionseinbußen führen bzw.…”