Microbiological profile of pathogenic bacteria in diabetic foot infections in a tertiary care hospital in Tamil Nadu

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is the most common
medical ailment that majority of the Indian
population is afflicted with. Diabetic foot
infections are one of the most feared complications
of diabetes leading to a high
morbidity rate and one of the leading
causes of hospitalisations and amputation
of limbs. Most of these wounds are polymicrobial
in nature with multi drug resistant
organisms making the management
difficult. For the period of eight months 148
Diabetic wound samples were received
and processed in our laboratory. The
study shows a male predominance of
70.2. The most common age group affected
is between 51 60 years. The commonest
organism causing wound infection
is Staphylococcus aureus followed by the
Enterobacteriaceae group of organisms.
Among the Staphylococcal isolates 43.2
were methicillin resistant S. aureus and
37.5 of the Enterobacteriaceae are extended
spectrum beta lactamase producers.
Fifteen patients (10.1) had more than
one drug resistant organism
Majority of the patients are found to be
empirically treated with amoxicillin clavulanic
acid or cefaperazone sulbactam or
piperacillin tazobactam. A complete microbial
profile with the antibiogram in a
particular hospital will help to guide appropriate
management of diabetic foot infections.