Could a common antibiotic save diabetic feet from amputation?

NCT ID NCT03012529

Completed Disease control Sponsor: VA Office of Research and Development Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study tested whether adding the antibiotic rifampin to standard treatment helps prevent amputations in diabetic patients with foot bone infections. Over 800 veterans participated, receiving either rifampin or a placebo for six weeks. The goal was to see if rifampin improves amputation-free survival.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: Rifampin (an antibiotic)
What this could lead to: If it works, adding rifampin to usual antibiotics could lower the risk of foot or leg amputation in diabetic patients with bone infection.
What could go wrong: This is a completed Phase 4 trial, but results may not apply to all patients. Rifampin can cause side effects like stomach upset and urine discoloration, and may not improve outcomes for everyone.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

diabetes mellitus osteomyelitis

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

AMPUTATION DIABETES OSTEOMYELITIS

Contacts and locations

Locations

Atlanta VA Medical and Rehab Center, Decatur, GA

Decatur, Georgia, 30033, United States
Bay Pines VA Healthcare System, Pay Pines, FL

Bay Pines, Florida, 33744-0000, United States
Cincinnati VA Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH

Cincinnati, Ohio, 45220, United States
Dayton VA Medical Center, Dayton, OH

Dayton, Ohio, 45428, United States
James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital, Tampa, FL

Tampa, Florida, 33612, United States
James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY

The Bronx, New York, 10468-3904, United States
Louis Stokes VA Medical Center, Cleveland, OH

Cleveland, Ohio, 44106-1702, United States
Miami VA Healthcare System, Miami, FL

Miami, Florida, 33125, United States
Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, TX

Houston, Texas, 77030, United States
Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN

Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55417, United States
North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System, Gainesville, FL

Gainesville, Florida, 32608-1135, United States
Oklahoma City VA Medical Center, Oklahoma City, OK

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 73104, United States
Phoenix VA Health Care System, Phoenix, AZ

Phoenix, Arizona, 85012, United States
Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center, Aurora, CO

Aurora, Colorado, 80045-7211, United States
Salem VA Medical Center, Salem, VA

Salem, Virginia, 24153-6404, United States
Salisbury W.G. (Bill) Hefner VA Medical Center, Salisbury, NC

Salisbury, North Carolina, 28144, United States
South Texas Health Care System, San Antonio, TX

San Antonio, Texas, 78229, United States
St. Louis VA Medical Center John Cochran Division, St. Louis, MO

St Louis, Missouri, 63106, United States
Tennessee Valley Healthcare System Nashville Campus, Nashville, TN

Nashville, Tennessee, 37212-2637, United States
VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI

Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48105-2303, United States
VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, West Los Angeles, CA

West Los Angeles, California, 90073, United States
VA Loma Linda Healthcare System, Loma Linda, CA

Loma Linda, California, 92357-1000, United States
VA Long Beach Healthcare System, Long Beach, CA

Long Beach, California, 90822, United States
VA North Texas Health Care System Dallas VA Medical Center, Dallas, TX

Dallas, Texas, 75216-7167, United States
VA Northern California Health Care System, Mather, CA

Sacramento, California, 95655, United States
VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA

Palo Alto, California, 94304-1207, United States
VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR

Portland, Oregon, 97207-2964, United States
VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, Salt Lake City, UT

Salt Lake City, Utah, 84148-0001, United States
Washington DC VA Medical Center, Washington, DC

Washington D.C., District of Columbia, 20422-0001, United States
William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, WI

Madison, Wisconsin, 53705-2254, United States

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