Prior antibiotic use did not significantly impact culture positivity in DFO. Empirical antibiotic therapy in culture-negative cases did not increase the risk of amputation or recurrence. Treatment decisions should be individualized, adhering to antimicrobial stewardship principles. Further studies are needed to clarify the relationship between antibiotic exposure, culture results, and outcomes in DFO.
Aragón-Sánchez et al. (Mon,) studied this question.