Osteomyelitis of the Foot

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare different classes of oral antibiotics (beta-lactam and non-beta-lactam antibiotics) for the treatment of bone infections of the leg and foot. The hypothesis is that oral beta-lactam antibiotics work as well as oral non-beta-lactam antibiotics to treat these infections. The first step is to assess whether it is possible to perform the trial by determining whether participants can be recruited and followed successfully. If the trial is proven to be possible, it will be expanded to ensure an answer to whether the two antibiotic classes work as well for the treatment of bone infections of the leg and foot.

Lower extremity bone infections, such as osteomyelitis, often occur after bone fractures, surgery, or when prosthetic joints or hardware become infected. Treatment usually includes antibiotics, chosen based on the infection's specifics. Options include intravenous (IV) or oral antibiotics, and sometimes local treatment with antibiotic-loaded beads placed directly at the infection site. Traditionally, these beads are made of non-absorbable materials, requiring a second surgery to remove them. However, a newer approach uses absorbable calcium sulfate beads, which can deliver higher antibiotic doses and don't need removal. This study will compare the use of IV and/or antibiotics in combination with absorbable antibiotic calcium sulfate beads with IV and/or oral antibiotics without absorbable beads, which serves as the current standard of care.