Abstract
BackgroundFoot infection is a major complication of diabetes mellitus (DM) and its agents are usually polymicrobial. This study aims to describe the agent and determine the association between polymicrobial infections and the severity of diabetic foot infections (DFI) and their outcomes.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study was conducted during one year and it involved 104 patients. Their records were reviewed and assessed. The causative agents and its sensitivity pattern were noted. The results were presented as descriptive statistic and analysed.ResultsA total of 133 microorganisms were isolated with 1.28 microorganisms per lesion. The microorganism isolated were 62% (n = 83) GN (Gram-negative) and 38% (n = 50) GP (Gram-positive). GN microorganisms include Pseudomonas spp (28%), Proteus spp (11%), Klebsiella spp (8%) and E. coli (4%). Staphylococcus aureus (54%) was predominant among GP, followed by Group B Streptococci (26%) and Enterococcus spp (6%). Thirty patients (28.8%) had polymicrobial infections. The association between the quantity of microorganisms and severity of DFI was significant. Among severe DFI cases, 77.8% with polymicrobial microorganisms underwent amputation compared to 33.3% with monomicrobial infection.ConclusionGN microorganisms were predominantly isolated from DFIs and remained sensitive to widely used agents. Polymicrobial infections were associated with DFI severity.
Highlights
Foot infections are among the most common lower extremity complications in the diabetic population, second only to foot ulcers in frequency [1]
GN microorganisms were predominantly isolated from diabetic foot infections (DFI) and remained sensitive to widely used agents
Polymicrobial infections were associated with DFI severity
Summary
Foot infections are among the most common lower extremity complications in the diabetic population (excluding neuropathy), second only to foot ulcers in frequency [1]. As the incidence of diabetes mellitus (DM) is increasing globally, complications related to this endocrine disorder are mounting and diabetic foot infections (DFIs) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with DM. DFI affect one in 10 patients with DM during their lifetime [2] They have increased risk of lower extremity amputations and the main cause is diabetic peripheral arterial disease accelerated by the direct damage to the. Foot infection is a major complication of diabetes mellitus (DM) and its agents are usually polymicrobial. This study aims to describe the agent and determine the association between polymicrobial infections and the severity of diabetic foot infections (DFI) and their outcomes
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