Could a common antibiotic save diabetic feet from amputation?
NCT ID NCT03012529
First seen Jan 11, 2026 · Last updated Jun 21, 2026 · Updated 32 times
Summary
This study tested whether adding the antibiotic rifampin to standard treatment helps diabetic patients with foot bone infections avoid amputation. Over 800 veterans took part, receiving either rifampin or a placebo for six weeks. The goal was to see if rifampin improves amputation-free survival.
Disclaimer
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This is a summary of
the original study
.
Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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Contacts and locations
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Locations
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Atlanta VA Medical and Rehab Center, Decatur, GA
Decatur, Georgia, 30033, United States
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Bay Pines VA Healthcare System, Pay Pines, FL
Bay Pines, Florida, 33744-0000, United States
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Cincinnati VA Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH
Cincinnati, Ohio, 45220, United States
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Dayton VA Medical Center, Dayton, OH
Dayton, Ohio, 45428, United States
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James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital, Tampa, FL
Tampa, Florida, 33612, United States
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James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY
The Bronx, New York, 10468-3904, United States
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Louis Stokes VA Medical Center, Cleveland, OH
Cleveland, Ohio, 44106-1702, United States
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Miami VA Healthcare System, Miami, FL
Miami, Florida, 33125, United States
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Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, TX
Houston, Texas, 77030, United States
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Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55417, United States
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North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System, Gainesville, FL
Gainesville, Florida, 32608-1135, United States
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Oklahoma City VA Medical Center, Oklahoma City, OK
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 73104, United States
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Phoenix VA Health Care System, Phoenix, AZ
Phoenix, Arizona, 85012, United States
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Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center, Aurora, CO
Aurora, Colorado, 80045-7211, United States
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Salem VA Medical Center, Salem, VA
Salem, Virginia, 24153-6404, United States
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Salisbury W.G. (Bill) Hefner VA Medical Center, Salisbury, NC
Salisbury, North Carolina, 28144, United States
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South Texas Health Care System, San Antonio, TX
San Antonio, Texas, 78229, United States
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St. Louis VA Medical Center John Cochran Division, St. Louis, MO
St Louis, Missouri, 63106, United States
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Tennessee Valley Healthcare System Nashville Campus, Nashville, TN
Nashville, Tennessee, 37212-2637, United States
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VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI
Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48105-2303, United States
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VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, West Los Angeles, CA
West Los Angeles, California, 90073, United States
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VA Loma Linda Healthcare System, Loma Linda, CA
Loma Linda, California, 92357-1000, United States
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VA Long Beach Healthcare System, Long Beach, CA
Long Beach, California, 90822, United States
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VA North Texas Health Care System Dallas VA Medical Center, Dallas, TX
Dallas, Texas, 75216-7167, United States
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VA Northern California Health Care System, Mather, CA
Sacramento, California, 95655, United States
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VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA
Palo Alto, California, 94304-1207, United States
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VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR
Portland, Oregon, 97207-2964, United States
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VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, Salt Lake City, UT
Salt Lake City, Utah, 84148-0001, United States
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Washington DC VA Medical Center, Washington, DC
Washington D.C., District of Columbia, 20422-0001, United States
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William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, WI
Madison, Wisconsin, 53705-2254, United States
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 may interact with other drugs.
Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.