Patients with diabetes mellitus frequently develop foot infections, which can progress to gangrene and ultimately limb amputation. This study aimed to determine the microbiological profile and antibiotic susceptibility patterns of the causative agents of infections in diabetic feet. This six-month prospective observational study included 78 Type 2 diabetic patients with Wagner’s grade 1 or higher. The microbiological profile and patterns of antibiotic susceptibility of the agents responsible for the infections in diabetic feet were determined. Culture tests were carried out on the tissue or pus that had been removed from the ulcer bases. An analysis of antibiotic sensitivity was performed following the identification of the organisms. Gram-negative pathogens (88%) were more prevalent than Gram-positive pathogens (12%). It was found that 41% of the patients had polymicrobial disease. Escherichia coli (17%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (17%), Staphylococcus aureus (13.8%), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (12.7%) appeared to be the most frequent pathogens found in isolations. Ciprofloxacin was more resistant to Escherichia coli, whereas cotrimoxazole was more resistant to K. pneumoniae. In addition, Acinetobacter baumannii, a multidrug-resistant bacterium, was identified. The presence of multidrug-resistant organisms in diabetic foot infection treatment plan is important. The results of the present study further highlight the necessity of choosing antimicrobial treatments based on antimicrobial sensitivity patterns displayed by isolates and culture outcomes.
Govindaswamy et al. (Wed,) studied this question.