Reliable Interventions
Risk Stratification
by Dana Whitney, Pharm.D., BCPS
What is risk stratification for diabetic foot infections?
Risk stratification is a standardized method of classifying the degree of disease in a diabetic foot infection. Risk stratification may include severity, extent of disease, etiology and/or prognosis.
Why is risk stratification important?
The ultimate goal of treatment in diabetic foot infection is to prevent amputation (and mortality?). Risk stratification is an important step in the process in order to identify and classify patients (prognosis), guide treatment, optimize therapy, track progress and redesign protocols.
How is risk stratification done? Who is responsible?
Management of diabetic foot infection requires a multidisciplinary approach (see stakeholders). There are several tools for risk stratification. Historically, the lack on uniformity in wound classification has made comparisons among clinical trails difficult; however there has been a movement towards consensus in ulcer and infection classification for the purposes of research. None of the classifications listed in the Ulcer and Infection Classification section have been proven superior in a clinical setting. Regardless of which classification system is used, it should be based on available resources and be easy for clinicians to use.
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