Changing trend in the clinico- bacteriological profile of diabetic foot infection over a decade: observations from a tertiary care hospital of India

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Diabetic foot infection (DFI) is a major challenge in podiatric surgery. Initiation of an appropriate antimicrobial drug is the determining factor in the prognosis in DFI.AIM: This study was undertaken to analyse the changing trends in the clinical profile of patients and the bacterial profile causing DFI for over a decade.MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective observational study conducted at the department of microbiology and surgery of the tertiary teaching hospital. The clinical and bacterial profile of patients with DFI in 2009 and 2019 was collected and analysed for the changing trend.RESULTS: Amongst the 203 patients (95 in 2009 and 108 in 2019) included in the study, 113 (56%) were male patients. There was a shift in the age group of patients from 51–60 to 61–70 years over a decade. There was a change of most common pathogens from Pseudomonas aeruginosa to Klebsiella species. The resistance rates to third-generation cephalosporins decreased amongst the Gram-negative isolates such as P. aeruginosa and Escherichia coli, but an increase in resistance to carbapenems was observed during the study period. There was reduced incidence of infection with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus during the study period.CONCLUSION: There was a change in the demographic and bacteriological flora in the DFI patients over a decade. The antimicrobial resistance rate varied for various antimicrobial agents over a decade for a particular pathogen. Regular surveillance of the change in resistance pattern amongst the pathogens is essential for the initiation of appropriate empirical therapy to reduce the morbidity in DFI.