People with diabetes may have a higher risk for wound infections following skin surgery.. Australian researchers compared healing time from skin surgery in patients with diabetes to patients who did not have diabetes.The study, published in Journal Watch Dermatology in 2009, tracked 4,197 patients, 4.7% of whom reported a history of diabetes. Researchers considered age, sex, smoking, antithrombic medication, lesion site and type of closure for the surgery. Postoperative wound infections developed in 4.2% of patients with diabetes versus 2% of non-diabetic patients. Once all variables were considered, those with diabetes had a 66% higher risk for infection.Other complications occurred at similar rates in both groups, including bleeding, dehiscence, edge necrosis, contact dermatitis, wound depression or elevation, hypertrophic scar or keloid, pain, hypergranulation, granuloma formation, and deep scar.The associate editor of Journal Watch Dermatology concluded that patients with diabetes may benefit from prophylactic antibiotics before skin surgery.
Check out Health Bistro for more healthy food for thought. See what Lifescript editors are talking about and get the skinny on the latest news. Share it with your friends (it’s free to sign up!), and bookmark it so you don’t miss a single juicy post!Talk to us on Facebook and Twitter!