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Background - Foot infections are very frequent in patients with diabetes and are associated with
high morbidity and risk of lower extremity amputation. Diabetic foot infections may be mild,
moderate, or severe. Tissue samples obtained after scraping the base of the ulcer or by wound or
bone biopsy is strongly chosen to wound swabs. Surgery is the keystone of treatment for deep
diabetic foot infection and ulceration after being treated with empirical therapy. Procedures range
from simple incision and drainage to wide multiple surgical debridement and amputation.
Objectives - Bacterial isolation and antibiotic susceptibility pattern of patients with diabetic foot and
their correlation between age, sex and their socio-economic status.
Material and methods - 62 patients with diabetic foot admitted in surgical wards were included. Pus
and other relevant samples from the patient were collected. Gram staining & culture was done via
conventional techniques followed by AST by Kirby Bauer disk diffusion technique.
Results - Out of total 62 patients males (41) were predominant over females (21). Gram negative
(17) were leading over gram positive (7). In gram positive organism maximum isolates were
S. aureus followed by Enterococcus and in gram negative organism’s maximum isolate was
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa followed by E. coli, Proteus & Klebsiella.
Conclusion - Pseudomonas Aeruginosa and Staphyalococcus aureus were found to be equally
responsible for infection followed by E. coli, Proteus, Klebsiella and Enterococcus. First line of
generation, of Cephalosporins and most of the Aminoglycosides were active against gram positives
whereas successive generations of cephalosporins were active against gram negatives including
some penicillin drugs like Ampicillin, Amoxicillin, and Pipracillin-Tazobactum which were sensitive
for both gram positive and gram negative organisms.
Keywords: Diabetic foot infection, Bacterial isolation, Bacterial characterization, Antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST).