Diabetic Foot Ulcers

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Infections

Phage Therapy Center Georgia is accepting patients with diabetic foot ulcers, tropic ulcers, bed sores, and osteomyelitis -- including those with drug-resistant VRE and MRSA infections.

Diabetic Foot Ulcers

Diabetic foot ulceration represents a major medical, social and economic problem all over the world. While more than 5% of diabetic patients have a history of foot ulceration, the cumulative lifetime incidence may be as high as 15%. Foot infections are among the most serious complications of diabetes, and a leading cause of diabetes-related hospitalizations. The infections typically occur when pathogens-usually gram-positive bacteria-infect foot ulcers. These sores develop because of diabetes-related nerve damage and loss of feeling in the feet. Amputation may be needed when infections fail to respond to therapy. People with diabetes account for about two-thirds of the 134,000 lower-limb amputations performed each year in the United States.

Significance of Diabetic Ulcers

14 Million people in the U.S. with Diabetes
2 Million (15%) may develop foot related ulcers
12 times more likely to undergo amputation than non-diabetic
Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is associated with an increased risk of foot ulceration.
Three times as many patients are admitted to the hospital for neuropathic foot ulceration than with ischemia.

Amputation Rate in the Diabetic

Diabetes is the leading cause of lower extremity amputations.
5-15% of diabetic patients require an amputation at some time in their lives.
In 1990, over 54000 non-tramatic lower extremity amputations occurred among diabetics. (8.3 per 1,000)
648,570 days of hospital care (28% of total hospital days)
3 year survival- 50%
Almost 50% of amputations are preventable (Approx. 20,000) with proper intervention.
Diabetics are at 15 times the risk of experiencing limb amputations following initial injury as compared with the nondiabetic population.

Cost of Treatment of the Diabetic Foot

Medical Cost: (1992) $85 billion (Average of $45,000 per patient)
Indirect cost: (1992) $47 billion (Disability, lost work, rehabilitation, loss of future earning power)
Medical efforts must be directed at patient education, prevention, early detection, and prompt treatment of foot infections.

Phage Therapy

Etiology: Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, Proteus, Pseudomonas

Phage Therapy Center
Phage Therapy Center treats antibiotic-resistant infections. [More information...]

Fred Bledsoe of Indiana and Alfred Gertler of Canada were treated at Phage Therapy Center for foot infections in the past two years. Both had been told by their doctors at home that their infections were not responding to antibiotics and amputation was recommended.

Diabetic Foot Ulcer
(Citizen of USA Fred Bledsoe, male, 48 yr.)

November 1, 2002

November 11, 2002

November 14, 2002

After 10 days of phage treatment, Bledsoe’s infection was clearly in retreat: “It was almost instantaneous, it started to work that fast,” says his sister, Saharra, who accompanied him to Georgia. “The tissue around the wound just looked different, even after just one treatment.”

Ten months after Gertler returned from Georgia, his foot and ankle are completely healed, and he has resumed his career as a jazz bassist.

A US citizen from Fort Wayne, Indiana and after the stepping on a nail, his wound became infected. After 10 weeks of unsuccessful treatment in hospital he faced amputation; however, he opted to travel to Tbilisi, Georgia for successful phage therapy treatment.

PhageBioDerm is designed to treat and prevent infection and maintain appropriate moisture levels, with maximum mobility and minimum need for materials and time involvement from therapists.

Additional Information About Phage Therapy for this Condition

Hirzfield Institute of Immunology and Virology
Therapeutic Use of Bacteriophages in Bacterial Infections

Hirzfield Institute of Immunology and Virology
Efficacy of Phage Therapy - Clinical Trials

Evergreen State College
Polish Update
Alfred's Story

International Journal of Dermatology
A novel sustained-release matrix based on biodegradable poly(ester amide)s and impregnated with bacteriophages and an antibiotic shows promise in management of infected venous stasis ulcers and other poorly healing wounds

The Star Ledger
Germs that Fight Germs

The News Sentinel
Rare cure saves man's foot

CBS News: 48 Hours
Silent Killers: Fantastic Phages?

Eliava Institute
List of Bacteriophages

Medical Information

DCMS Online, Thomas G. Peters, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Distal Foot Amputation With Limb Salvage

Patient Health International
Diabetes