CHARACTERIZATION & ANTIMICROBIAL SUSCEPTIBILITY TESTING OF AEROBES FROM FOOT ULCERS OF ADULTS- COVERING LETTER

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Ulcer foot is a major problem that can impair the quality of life, require prolonged hospitalization & entail high cost to the patient, his/her family members, health care system Apart from diabetic ulcer, the non-diabetic causes of ulcer foot like burns ulcer is now a major problem in many parts of the world.

Appropriate antibiotic therapy is an important part of an ulcer foot management.

METHODS

2 Swabs were sampled and subjected to culture by standard methods. The organism obtained was identified upto genus level and antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed as per CLSI guidelines. Drug resistance was simultaneously detected using disc approximation method and the results were noted.

RESULTS

A total of 200 samples were processed, 85% yielded growth & 15% yielded, No growth. The ulcers sampled were 72 Diabetic,38 ulcer due to necrotizing fascitits,30 ulcers due to cellulitis,23 Venous ulcer,15 Non healing ulcer,10 hypertensive ulcer,9 Traumatic ulcer,1 osteomyelitis ulcer,1 Snake bite ulcer & 1 venous ulcer.

Gram negative isolates constituted 67.39% while Gram positive isolates were 32.60%. Pseudomonas aeruginosa,51 (22.1%) was the most common Gram Negative Isolate S. aureus, 33 (14.34%) was the most common Gram positive isolate.

CONCLUSION

Diabetic foot ulcer is one of the most commonly encountered cause of foot ulcers in adults. The next most common causes are Necrotizing fasciitis & ulcer due to cellulitis.

There is a potential risk factor towards the development of systemic toxicity, gangrene formation & amputation of the lower limb if there is no early medical intervention

The increasing resistance pattern of various organisms to the commonly used antibiotics is reducing the treatment options for the physician to treat the infections