Investigation of Rifampin to Reduce Pedal Amputations for Osteomyelitis in Diabetics

Last updated: January 13, 2026
Sponsor: VA Office of Research and Development
Overall Status: Completed

Phase

4

Condition

Diabetic Kidney Disease

Diabetic Vitreous Hemorrhage

Diabetes And Hypertension

Treatment

Riboflavin Placebo

Rifampin

Clinical Study ID

NCT03012529
2001
  • Ages 18-89
  • All Genders

Study Summary

The purpose of this research study is to determine if rifampin, an antibiotic (a medicine that treats infections), is effective in treating osteomyelitis (infection of the bone) of the foot in diabetic patients. Despite use of powerful antibiotics prescribed over a long period of time, many diabetic patients remain at a high risk for needing an amputation of part of the foot or lower leg because the osteomyelitis is not cured. Some small research studies have shown that addition of rifampin to other antibiotics is effective in treating osteomyelitis in both diabetics and non-diabetics. However, because few diabetics with osteomyelitis have been studied, there is no definite proof that it is better than the usual treatments for diabetic patients. If this study finds that adding rifampin to the usual antibiotics prescribed for osteomyelitis reduces the risk for amputations, doctors will be able to more effectively treat many Veteran patients with this serious infection. Improving treatment outcomes is an important healthcare goal of the VA.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Age 18 and 89 years

  2. Diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, either by: 1) use of oral hypoglycemic agents orinsulin at the time of enrollment; 2) a hemoglobin A1c (HgA1c) level within the past 90 days > 6.5; or 3) a medical record diagnosis of diabetes mellitus by a clinicianon two or more occasions in the previous 10 years

  3. Definite or probable osteomyelitis in the diabetic foot, as defined by theInternational Working Group on the Diabetic Foot (Table 1). Criteria must be presentat some point within 90 days prior to enrollment.

  4. All planned debridement has been completed prior to randomization.

  5. A course of backbone antimicrobial therapy has been selected.

Exclusion

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Patient unable to receive enteral medication.

  2. Patient is allergic to or intolerant of rifampin.

  3. Patient is taking a drug that has interactions with rifampin that would requireeither stoppage, substitution or an empiric dose modification that may place thepatient at medical risk.

  4. Within 30 days of enrollment, patient is taking immunosuppressive medications toprevent rejection of an organ transplant or is receiving chemotherapy for cancer ormolecularly targeted therapies for cancer.

  5. Patient is receiving antiretroviral therapy for HIV or antiviral medication forHepatitis C.

  6. Patient is participating in another interventional clinical trial for which a waiverof dual enrollment with CSP#2001 has not been obtained.

  7. Patient has an ALT > 3 times the upper limit of normal for the site laboratory, ortotal bilirubin > 2.5 times the upper limit of normal for the site laboratory*,***;INR > 1.5, OR patient has Child-Pugh Class C Cirrhosis.

  8. Patient has a baseline white blood cell count (WBC) <2000 cells/mm3*** OR absoluteneutrophil count (ANC) <1000 cells/mm3*** OR platelet count <50,000 cells/mm3**,OR hemoglobin <8.0 g/dL.,**.

  9. Women of child-bearing potential (those with menses within the last year) with apositive serum pregnancy test.

  10. Patient is believed unlikely to be able to complete the trial due to medicalconditions.

  11. Patient is believed unlikely to complete the trial due to neurologic andpsycho-behavioral disorders such as active substance abuse or dependence, disablingdementias or psychoses.

  12. Patient refuses or is clinically unable to undergo the recommended level ofdebridement.

  13. Indwelling hardware present in the foot, at the site of the index osteomyelitis.

  14. Treatment with antibacterial agents for infection at another site, where theduration of treatment is anticipated to be greater than 14 days.

  15. Patient is receiving therapy for COVID-19 that interacts with rifampin.

  • Patients with total bilirubin > 2 times the ULN who have Gilbert's Disease orany other inherited disease affecting bilirubin metabolism without meetingother exclusionary criteria, may be considered for inclusion in the study.
  • Patients with platelet count <50,000 cells/mm3 due only to hypersplenismand meeting no other exclusionary criteria may be considered for inclusionin the study.
  • If multiple laboratory values are available, the most recent valuewill be applied for eligibility.

Study Design

Total Participants: 843
Treatment Group(s): 2
Primary Treatment: Riboflavin Placebo
Phase: 4
Study Start date:
January 22, 2018
Estimated Completion Date:
November 05, 2025

Study Description

This is a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, investigation of a six week course of adjunctive rifampin vs. adjunctive matched placebo (riboflavin) added to backbone antibacterial therapy for the treatment of diabetic foot osteomyelitis. Backbone antibacterial therapy will be with single or multiple agents selected by the clinical treatment team based either on culture results or standard empiric therapy, and which can be administered either intravenously or orally. Rifampin will be dosed at 600 mg daily. The primary outcome measure is amputation-free survival. Amputation events include both below- and above-ankle amputations. Primary outcomes will be determined by systematic medical record review and through confirmatory research visits, phone calls and, as needed, information from non-VA providers. The results for amputation-free survival will be analyzed by means of a two-sided log-rank test. The secondary outcomes of complete wound epithelialization and remission of osteomyelitis will be determined by the research team through VA record review and/or direct examination.

The study will initially enroll and randomize a total of 880 study participants to receive either rifampin or placebo (riboflavin) in addition to backbone antibiotic therapy prescribed by their clinician. Investigators expect to enroll, on average, close to one subject per month per site (10-12 per year/site) at 28 VA medical centers to achieve total randomization of 880 subjects over seven years. In meeting this average site enrollment projection, Investigators anticipate variation in enrollment between larger and smaller sites, and between high-performing and low-performing sites. Subjects will be followed through the end of the second year after randomization or until a study primary endpoint event (amputation or death) occurs. On average, study participants will be followed for 1.8 years through systematic review of medical records, and by study visits and phone calls.

Connect with a study center

  • Phoenix VA Health Care System, Phoenix, AZ

    Phoenix, Arizona 85012
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Phoenix VA Health Care System, Phoenix, AZ

    Phoenix 5308655, Arizona 5551752 85012
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • VA Loma Linda Healthcare System, Loma Linda, CA

    Loma Linda, California 92357-1000
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • VA Long Beach Healthcare System, Long Beach, CA

    Long Beach, California 90822
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA

    Palo Alto, California 94304-1207
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • VA Northern California Health Care System, Mather, CA

    Sacramento, California 95655
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, West Los Angeles, CA

    West Los Angeles, California 90073
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • VA Loma Linda Healthcare System, Loma Linda, CA

    Loma Linda 5367696, California 5332921 92357-1000
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • VA Long Beach Healthcare System, Long Beach, CA

    Long Beach 5367929, California 5332921 90822
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA

    Palo Alto 5380748, California 5332921 94304-1207
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • VA Northern California Health Care System, Mather, CA

    Sacramento 5389489, California 5332921 95655
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, West Los Angeles, CA

    West Los Angeles 5408115, California 5332921 90073
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center, Aurora, CO

    Aurora, Colorado 80045-7211
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System, Denver, CO

    Denver, Colorado 80220
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center, Aurora, CO

    Aurora 5412347, Colorado 5417618 80045-7211
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Washington DC VA Medical Center, Washington, DC

    Washington, District of Columbia 20422-0001
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Washington DC VA Medical Center, Washington, DC

    Washington, D.C., District of Columbia 20422
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Washington DC VA Medical Center, Washington, DC

    Washington D.C. 4140963, District of Columbia 4138106 20422-0001
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Bay Pines VA Healthcare System, Pay Pines, FL

    Bay Pines, Florida 33744-0000
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System, Gainesville, FL

    Gainesville, Florida 32608-1135
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Miami VA Healthcare System, Miami, FL

    Miami, Florida 33125
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital, Tampa, FL

    Tampa, Florida 33612
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Bay Pines VA Healthcare System, Pay Pines, FL

    Bay Pines 4146855, Florida 4155751 33744-0000
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System, Gainesville, FL

    Gainesville 4156404, Florida 4155751 32608-1135
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Miami VA Healthcare System, Miami, FL

    Miami 4164138, Florida 4155751 33125
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital, Tampa, FL

    Tampa 4174757, Florida 4155751 33612
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Atlanta VA Medical and Rehab Center, Decatur, GA

    Decatur, Georgia 30033
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Atlanta VA Medical and Rehab Center, Decatur, GA

    Decatur 4191124, Georgia 4197000 30033
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI

    Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105-2303
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI

    Ann Arbor 4984247, Michigan 5001836 48105-2303
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN

    Minneapolis, Minnesota 55417
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN

    Minneapolis 5037649, Minnesota 5037779 55417
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • St. Louis VA Medical Center John Cochran Division, St. Louis, MO

    Saint Louis, Missouri 63106
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • St. Louis VA Medical Center John Cochran Division, St. Louis, MO

    St Louis, Missouri 63106
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • St. Louis VA Medical Center John Cochran Division, St. Louis, MO

    St Louis 4407066, Missouri 4398678 63106
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY

    Bronx, New York 10468-3904
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY

    The Bronx, New York 10468
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY

    The Bronx 5110266, New York 5128638 10468-3904
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Salisbury W.G. (Bill) Hefner VA Medical Center, Salisbury, NC

    Salisbury, North Carolina 28144
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Salisbury W.G. (Bill) Hefner VA Medical Center, Salisbury, NC

    Salisbury 4489985, North Carolina 4482348 28144
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Cincinnati VA Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH

    Cincinnati, Ohio 45220
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Louis Stokes VA Medical Center, Cleveland, OH

    Cleveland, Ohio 44106-1702
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Dayton VA Medical Center, Dayton, OH

    Dayton, Ohio 45428
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Cincinnati VA Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH

    Cincinnati 4508722, Ohio 5165418 45220
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Louis Stokes VA Medical Center, Cleveland, OH

    Cleveland 5150529, Ohio 5165418 44106-1702
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Dayton VA Medical Center, Dayton, OH

    Dayton 4509884, Ohio 5165418 45428
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Oklahoma City VA Medical Center, Oklahoma City, OK

    Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73104
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Oklahoma City VA Medical Center, Oklahoma City, OK

    Oklahoma City 4544349, Oklahoma 4544379 73104
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR

    Portland, Oregon 97207-2964
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR

    Portland 5746545, Oregon 5744337 97207-2964
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Tennessee Valley Healthcare System Nashville Campus, Nashville, TN

    Nashville, Tennessee 37212-2637
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Tennessee Valley Healthcare System Nashville Campus, Nashville, TN

    Nashville 4644585, Tennessee 4662168 37212-2637
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • VA North Texas Health Care System Dallas VA Medical Center, Dallas, TX

    Dallas, Texas 75216-7167
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, TX

    Houston, Texas 77030
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • South Texas Health Care System, San Antonio, TX

    San Antonio, Texas 78229
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, TX

    Temple, Texas 76504
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • VA North Texas Health Care System Dallas VA Medical Center, Dallas, TX

    Dallas 4684888, Texas 4736286 75216-7167
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, TX

    Houston 4699066, Texas 4736286 77030
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • South Texas Health Care System, San Antonio, TX

    San Antonio 4726206, Texas 4736286 78229
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, Salt Lake City, UT

    Salt Lake City, Utah 84148-0001
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, Salt Lake City, UT

    Salt Lake City 5780993, Utah 5549030 84148-0001
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Salem VA Medical Center, Salem, VA

    Salem, Virginia 24153-6404
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Salem VA Medical Center, Salem, VA

    Salem 4784112, Virginia 6254928 24153-6404
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, WI

    Madison, Wisconsin 53705-2254
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, WI

    Madison 5261457, Wisconsin 5279468 53705-2254
    United States

    Site Not Available

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