Antimicrobial susceptibility pattern in diabetic foot ulcer: a pilot study.

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Dermatology

Background:

• Diabetic foot infections (DFIs) pose a significant global health challenge.
• Understanding causative microbes is crucial for effective antibiotic selection in DFIs.
• This study addresses the need for updated antimicrobial susceptibility data in DFIs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of different microbial pathogens in diabetic foot infections.
• To investigate the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of these isolated microbes.
• To provide evidence-based recommendations for empirical antibiotic therapy in DFIs.

Main Methods:

• A 6-month cross-sectional study was conducted involving 108 patients with DFIs.
• Pus samples were analyzed using Gram staining and aerobic culture.
• Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the disc diffusion method.

Main Results:

• Polymicrobial growth was observed in 44.4% of the diabetic foot lesion cultures.
• Gram-negative organisms (56%) were more prevalent than Gram-positive organisms (44%).
• Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequent pathogen; Acinetobacter showed complete resistance to tested antibiotics.

Conclusions:

• Gram-negative bacteria slightly outnumbered Gram-positive bacteria in diabetic foot ulcers.
• Doxycycline is recommended as the empirical treatment of choice for Gram-positive isolates.
• Amikacin, cefoperazone/sulbactam, and meropenem are recommended for treating Gram-negative aerobes in DFIs.