Study the susceptibility pattern of bacteria isolated from infected wounds and determine various risk factors associated with foot ulcer

Abstract

Studying of bacteria prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility in samples from foot ulcer patients with chronic wounds will provide the epidemiological information on chronic wound infections, representing support for diagnosis, treatment and management of this pathology, thus preventing further complications of foot infection. There are many risk factors associated with a foot ulcer, so identifying those risk factors and preventing them will help in reducing the incidence of the disease to a certain extend.  Identifying the type of organisms causing the chronic wound infection, antibiotic sensitivity and resistance representing support for diagnosis, treatment and management thus preventing further complications of foot infection, and to understand the significant risk factors associated with the development of foot ulcers. An interventional study was conducted among the 80 patients with foot ulcers admitted in General surgery ward of a medical college teaching hospital from Dec 2018 to May 2019. Antimicrobial susceptibility results showed that gram-negative organism was more prevalent and among the species, the isolated majority was found to be Staphylococcus aureus 28 (0.35%) followed by Klebsiella 16(20%) and E.coli15(18.75%). The most sensitive antibiotic found was Meropenam70 (87.5%) followed by Imipenam 67(83.75%) and Linezolid 65(81.25%) The most resistant antibiotic was Cotrimoxazole 66(82.5%). This study concludes that high proportion of foot ulcers were found amongst diabetic patients than non-diabetic patients, and were often associated with trauma, cellulitis, gangrene. Some of the critical risk factors for foot ulcers included low educational status, previous history of foot ulcer, previous amputation was done, duration of ulcers, smoking, peripheral neuropathy, infection and HbA1c levels of patients.