What Researchers Did
Researchers conducted a prospective study on 77 diabetic patients with infected foot ulcers to identify ulcer characteristics, cultured microorganisms, and determine their antibiotic sensitivity profiles.
What They Found
The study found that Wagner's grade III and IV ulcers were most common, with 48% involving the toes. Gram-negative microorganisms were predominantly isolated (71.1%), while gram-positive microorganisms accounted for 27.7%, and fungus for 1.2%. Gram-negative bacteria were sensitive to aminoglycosides and cephalosporins, but over 40% were resistant to ampicillin, while MRSA was sensitive to vancomycin.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
The findings on common microorganisms and their antibiotic sensitivities can guide empirical antibiotic choices for Canadian patients with diabetic foot ulcers. This information may help reduce the development of drug-resistant strains by promoting more targeted treatment.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
As a pilot study, its findings are limited by the relatively small sample size and single-center design, which may affect generalizability.