Vol. 4, Issue 6 (2015)

Aim: The present study was undertaken to assess the role of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria in the causation of diabetic foot ulcers.

Material and Method: Foot ulcer patients were categorized into six grades based on Wagner classification. A semi structured questionnaire was developed to record the medical history, examination details and investigation reports. A detail medical history was taken of all the patients regarding age and sex, duration of diabetes, type of diabetes, duration of foot ulcer, grade of ulcer, smoking, hypertension and associated complications. Meticulous clinical examination was done.

Results: 16 (20.5%) patients had blood sugar level within controlled limits and 62 (79.5%) patients had poor glycemic control at the time an average of 1.6 organisms per case were isolated from patients having control. An average of one organism per case was isolated from patients with controlled blood sugar level.,

Conclusion: As the grading of ulcer increased, the number of bacteria isolated also increased. Polymicrobial infection was noted in (55.3%) cases. An average of 1.8 organisms per case was isolated. Majority of the isolates were aerobes. Anaerobes constituted only 3.6% and Peptostreptococcus anaerobius was the major anaerobe isolated. Majority of the isolates were aerobic Gram negative bacteria. Staphylococcus aureus was the commonest among the aerobic gram positive bacteria. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the second common of the isolates.