DNA Study Reveals Key to Treating Diabetic Foot Infections

Scientists just made a breakthrough that could help millions of people with diabetes keep their feet healthy and avoid amputation.

Researchers at King's College London analyzed the DNA of bacteria from diabetic foot infections in 10 countries, from Nigeria to South Korea. What they found surprised them: these dangerous infections aren't caused by one villain but by many different strains of E. coli, each with its own tricks for survival.

This discovery explains why diabetic foot infections can worsen so quickly and resist treatment. Different bacterial strains carry different genes for antibiotic resistance and aggression, making them stubborn opponents.

The team sequenced the complete DNA of 42 E. coli strains taken from infected wounds. They found striking diversity, with bacteria belonging to many unrelated genetic families that had independently learned to thrive in diabetic foot ulcers.

About 8 percent of the strains showed resistance to multiple antibiotics or nearly all available treatments. That's the bad news, but knowing this information is actually good news for patients.

Dr. Vincenzo Torraca, who led the study, explained how this changes care: "By identifying which E. coli strains are most common and which antibiotics they are likely to resist, clinicians can choose therapies that are more likely to work."

Victor Ajumobi, the study's first author, highlighted another benefit. The findings will be especially valuable in areas with limited resources, where these infections are more common and diagnostic tools aren't always available.

The Bright Side

This research represents a fundamental shift in how doctors can approach diabetic foot infections. Instead of guessing which antibiotic might work, clinicians will soon be able to match treatments to specific bacterial strains.

The global scope of the study means the findings apply everywhere, not just in wealthy countries with advanced labs. Knowledge about which strains appear where can help doctors make better decisions even without expensive testing.

The research team is already working on the next phase: understanding how specific bacterial genes help infections take hold. Finding these weak points could lead to entirely new treatments that target the bacteria's survival mechanisms directly.

For the 537 million adults worldwide living with diabetes, this research offers something precious: hope that one of the disease's most devastating complications can be better controlled, reducing infections, hospitalizations, and the heartbreaking risk of losing a limb.