Oral antibiotic therapy may offer a safe alternative to IV treatment for DFO. A scoping review in Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice mapped existing evidence on antibiotic routes to inform future decision support tools.

The review followed the Joanna Briggs Institute methodological framework and applied the quintuple aim for quality of care. The search identified 6,814 records from databases, reference lists, and grey literature. Two interdisciplinary reviewers screened and assessed studies independently. Twenty-five studies met inclusion criteria; most used retrospective observational designs and included adults with diabetic foot infection or DFO.

Across studies, oral and IV antibiotic therapy produced similar clinical outcomes. However, numerical reporting of cure rates, recurrence, and adverse events was inconsistent. Evidence addressing patient-reported outcomes, care experience, team-based management, and equity-related factors was limited. Standardized definitions of clinical endpoints were also uncommon, restricting comparability across studies.

The findings suggest that oral antibiotic therapy may be a safe and effective option for selected individuals with DFO. Substantial evidence gaps remain, highlighting the need for more robust data to support patient-centered decision-making beyond infection control.