A study of aerobic bacterial culture and antibiotic susceptibility pattern of diabetic foot ulcer

Abstract

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disorder that affects large segments of the population in the whole world.
Aim: The aim of the study was to isolate and identify aerobic bacteria from diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) and to determine their antibiotic susceptibility pattern. The reason for the increased incidence of DFU involves the interaction of several pathogenic factors such as neuropathy, abnormal foot ulcer, and peripheral arterial diseases.
Materials and Methods: A prospective study was conducted for a period of 6 months in Sir Sayajirao General Hospital and Medical College, Vadodara, Gujarat. 175 DFU patients attending the surgery ward were included in the study. Two swabs were taken from each patient and processed by standard techniques to isolate and identify various bacterial species. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was done by Kirby-Bauer’s disc diffusion method for all the aerobic bacterial isolates.
Results: It was observed from the result that common pathogens isolated from the DFU were Klebsiella species and acinetobacter followed by Pseudomonas and Proteus species, as well as Escherichia coli. Pseudomonas species, isolates were highly resistant to most tested antibiotics except piperacillin-tazobactam, levofloxacin, and meropenem. Cefoperazone-sulbactam and levofloxacin are more active against E. coli followed by gentamycin. Ofloxacin is more active against Staphylococcus aureus followed by gentamycin and cefoxitin. Cefoperazone-sulbactam is active against Proteus mirabilis followed by piperacillin-tazobactam.
Conclusion: This study concludes that DFU infection is mostly polymicrobial in nature and appropriate antibiotic therapy is required for treatment of DFU.