Abstract:
Aims: Diabetic foot ulcers (DFU’s) pose socio-economic challenges and are a major
cause of hospital admissions and morbidity often causing suffering and poor quality of
life for diabetics especially in developing world. The aim of this study was to determine
the bacterial profile and antibiotic susceptibility and resistance pattern of foot ulcers of
diabetics at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH).
Study Design: Descriptive cross-sectional. Twenty seven (27) diabetics with foot ulcers
comprising 15 males and 12 females attending the diabetic clinic at KATH were recruited or this study.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at the diabetic clinic of the
Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) between November 2006 and April 2007.
Methodology: Demographic parameters of the participants were recorded and wound
swabs were obtained and cultured on blood and MacConkay agar. Organisms isolated
were identified and tested for their antimicrobial sensitivity patterns using Kirby-Bauer
method.
Results: The mean age of the participants, duration of diabetes and FBS were
58.2±12.0 years and 6.5±2 years and 12.3±4.0 mmol/L respectively. Two (2) patients
had their toes amputated. Twenty nine (29) isolates were detected from the 27 ulcer
specimens out of which 28 (97%) isolates were gram negative organisms. Proteus spp
(31%) and Escherichia coli (24%) were the most common gram negative pathogens
isolated in this study and Staphylococcus aureus was the only gram positive organism
isolated. Ciprofloxacin (100%), ceftazidime (100%), Ceftriaxone (88.3%), gentamycin
(80%) and cefotaxime (80%) were most sensitive to the isolates whereas ampicillin (0%),
tetracycline (0%) and chloramphenicol (0%) were the most resistant.
Conclusions: Gram negative organisms’ highly sensitive to ciprofloxacin, ceftazidime
and Ceftriaxone are the most common pathogens in DFU’s in KATH.
