Common pathogens in diabetic foot infection - A study of 120 cases

Objective: to identify the most common pathogens in diabetic foot patients presenting with different grades of infection. design: a descriptive study place and duration of study: surgical unit,department of surgery at dhq teaching hospital d g khan for a periods of eighteen months from august 2011 to feb 2013. patients and methods: a total of 120 diabetic patients with different severity of foot infections who presented in causality and surgical outpatient department dhq teaching hospital d g khan,where included in this study. patients included in this study were above age of twelve years and were of both sexes. a detailed history was taken followed by the clinical examination. routine investigations including complete blood examinations,complete urine examination,renal parameters,x-ray foot,cxr,ecg and pus for culture and sensitivity were recorded. lesions were graded according to wagner classification and appropriate medical and surgical treatment carried out. results: this study was carried out on 120 diabetic patients,out of which ninety six (80.0%) were male and twenty four (20%) were female. male to female ratio was 4:1. majority of the patients (n=66) were between the age group of 50 to 60 years. in majority of these patients fore foot was involved,mostly big or little toe. patients were grouped into five grades according to the severity of infection and wegners classification of diabetic foot infection. conclusion: most common pathogen obtained after culture was found to be staphylococcus aureus,followed by pseudomonas aurogenosa and proteus.