Bacterial pathogens in infected puncture wounds in adults with diabetes

Infections resulting from puncture wounds to the foot in diabetics appear not to have been previously reported in the medical literature. The purpose of this report is to describe bacterial pathogens identified from bone and soft tissue infections precipitated by a puncture injury in patients with diabetes. In a 7-year retrospective study, the authors evaluated 22 patients with osteomyelitis and 44 patients with soft tissue infections. Medical records and operative culture and sensitivity reports were reviewed. Staphylococcus aureus (68%), Streptococcus species (44%), and Enterococcus species (27%) were the most common pathogens identified. Pseudomonas was more common in cases of osteomyelitis (36%) than in soft tissue infections (18%) (p < 0.001). Pseudomonas was more common in patients that had worn tennis shoes at the time of the puncture injury compared to patients that were barefoot or who wore some other type of footwear (p < 0.001). Seventy-four percent of patients had polymicrobial infections. Anaerobes were identified in only seven patients (11%). This study suggests that polymicrobial infections with few anaerobes are common in infected puncture wounds in diabetics. Pseudomonas is more common in bone infections and is associated with wearing tennis shoes at the time of injury.