A PROSPECTIVE STUDY OF DIABETIC FOOT INFECTIONS (DIFs) IN A TEACHING HOSPITAL OF SEMI URBAN SETUP

Prof.Dr.BALLA MALLAYYA; Prof.Dr.PERALA BALA MURALI KRISHNA; Dr.BANDARU SRIUSHASWINI; Prof.Dr.BANDARU NARASINGA RAO

Volume : V, Issue : XI, November - 2016

A PROSPECTIVE STUDY OF DIABETIC FOOT INFECTIONS (DIFs) IN A TEACHING HOSPITAL OF SEMI URBAN SETUP

Prof. Dr. Balla Mallayya, Prof. Dr. Perala Bala Murali Krishna, Dr. Bandaru Sriushaswini, Prof. Dr. Bandaru Narasinga Rao

Abstract :

Background: Diabetic foot ulcer (DFIs) as the leading cause of lower limb amputation is one of the most important complications of diabetes mellitus (DM). The Indian diabetic population is expected to increase to 57 million by the year 2025. Mostly, the diabetic foot infections are mixed bacterial infections and the proper management of these infections requires an appropriate antibiotic selection, based on the culture and the antimicrobial susceptibility testing results. Hence, an attempt was made with the aim of determining the bacterial profile of infected diabetic foot ulcers and their antimicrobial resistance pattern. Patients and Methods: One hundred and twenty six diabetic patients with foot ulcers were included in the present study during a period of one and half years. Aerobic bacterial isolation was done from the specimens of these patients and their antimicrobial sensitivity pattern was studied using standard bacteriological techniques. Results: A total of 178 bacterial isolates were obtained from 126 patients with diabetic foot infections. Gram negative bacilli were predominant (67.42%) than gram positive cocci. The commonest isolate was Escherichia coli (31.46%) followed by Staphyloccus aureus (17.98%). The DFIs were of polymicrobial in nature. Majority of the bacterial isolates were highly sensitive to Amikacin, Cefotaxime, Ceftriaxone, Gentamicin in both gram positive and negative group whereas Staphylococcus aureus including MRSA were sensitive to Vancomycin. Conclusions: DFIs are common in diabetics and pose serious health problems for developing countries. Long duration of hospitalization of patients with high percentage of the amputations and overall mortality rates highlight the high burden of DFIs and the significance of its prevention and early treatment. To conclude, a multidisciplinary approach can confer better treatment and outcome with respect to DFIs