Infrared thermography an accurate tool for detecting diabetic ulcer in-fections

Rodriguez-Alonso D.; Benites Castillo S.; Milly Otiniano N.; Chian Garcia A. · Bionatura (2023) · DOI: 10.21931/rb/2023.08.03.58

Resumen

To determine the accuracy of infrared thermography as a diagnostic tool for detecting infections in diabetic ulcers compared to clinical diagnosis according to the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA). Eighty diabetic patients with suspected infected ulcers were recruited and underwent a clinical examination and infrared thermography of the lesions. According to the IDSA, clinical diagnosis was based on the presence of various symptoms and signs. At the same time, thermographic infection was defined as a temperature difference of at least 3°C between the lesion and surrounding tissue. The results showed that the accuracy of infrared thermography was 91%, indicating that this tool can be helpful in the early detection of infections and preventing severe complications in diabetic foot, such as sepsis and amputation. This study suggests that infrared thermography could be a useful complementary tool for diagnosing infections in diabetic ulcers in primary care.

Instituciones: Universidad César Vallejo