Ritu Vaish1
BACKGROUND
Diabetic foot is one of the most significant complications of diabetes. Chronic
infections are caused by Enterococci, various Enterobacteriaceae obligate
anaerobes, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. We wanted to study bacteriological
profile and antibiotic susceptibility in diabetic foot infection.
METHODS
A cross sectional study was done in 110 diabetic foot infection cases in the
Department of Microbiology, Prathima Institute of Medical Sciences, Nagunuru,
Karimnagar, Telangana. The grading of diabetic foot ulcers was done according to
Wagner’s Classification system. The samples were collected from the exudates and
ulcers. Gram staining was done and standard protocol for culture and sensitivity
was followed for all the cases.
RESULTS
A total of 110 cases were studied. The patient age ranged from 35 to 75 years
and the male to female ratio was 2:1. Out of 110 isolates, 72.7 % isolates were
Gram negative bacilli with P. aeruginosa 31.8 % being the predominant followed
by E. coli 27.2 %, K. pneumoniae 10 %, P. mirabilis 4.5 %, S. aureus 12.7 % was
the predominant isolate followed by Enterococci spp 4.5 % and Coagulase
negative staphylococci (CONS) 4.5 % and S. pyogenes were 5.4 %.
CONCLUSIONS
Both Gram positive cocci and Gram negative bacilli can cause diabetic foot
infections and this study showed a preponderance of Gram negative bacilli. Early
culture and sensitivity test of the bacterial isolates helps in guiding the treatment
plan.
