Final answer:
Osteomyelitis in a diabetic foot ulcer is diagnosed using radiographic imaging combined with lab analysis. Management includes surgical debridement, specific antibiotic therapy, and potentially surgery or hyperbaric oxygen therapy for severe cases.
Step-by-step explanation:
To diagnose osteomyelitis in a diabetic foot ulcer, a combination of radiographic imaging, lab analysis of debrided wound samples, and possibly blood culture identification is used. The goal is to detect if there is an infection in the bone tissue near the ulcer. For management, surgical debridement may be necessary to remove dead and infected tissue. Depending on the causative agent, appropriate antibiotic therapy is initiated. For acute osteomyelitis, drugs such as nafcillin, oxacillin, or cephalosporin are typical, while ampicillin with piperacillin/tazobactam is used for chronic cases. If antibiotic resistance occurs, vancomycin might be required. In severe cases, surgical intervention to remove the infected site or the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy may be considered.