A comparative study of diabetic and non-diabetic foot infections with reference to etiopathogenesis, clinical features, and outcome

Sambashiva Rao. G, Satyam. G
2016 Scholars Journal of Applied Medical Sciences  
The present study was conducted in Mamata medical college, Khammam, Telangana state. The principle aim of the study was to compare foot infections among diabetic and non-diabetic patients. It is comprised of 100 cases admitted to surgical wards with foot infections from August 2012 to September 2014. In diabetics 5th decade and in nondiabetics 4th decade was the most common age group presenting with foot infections. 65% of patients with foot infections were males, showing a male predominance in
more » ... both diabetes (68%) and non-diabetic (62%) patients. Cellulitis of the foot was the most common in both diabetics (40%) and non-diabetics (52%). The incidence of gangrene of foot was considerably higher in diabetics (20%) than in non-diabetics (6%). Trauma was the most common etiologic factor accounting for 76% in diabetics and 86% in non-diabetics. The maximum number of patients presented with Wagner's grade 3 lesions both in diabetics (46%) and non-diabetics (54%). However Wagner's grade 4 lesions were more common in diabetics (26%) than in non-diabetics (6%). The most common site of lesion in diabetics was dorsum (42%) and in non-diabetics was toes (40%). The incidence of peripheral vascular disease was significantly higher in diabetics (36%) than in non-diabetics (12%). The incidence of neuropathy was significantly higher in diabetics (74%) than in nondiabetics (18%). Most common organism isolated in culture was Staphylococcus aureus in both diabetics (64%) and nondiabetics (41%). Rate of amputation was high in diabetics (12%) compared to non-diabetics (6%). The average number days in a hospital stay in diabetics was 40.57 days and in non-diabetics it was 29.16 days. This study concludes that diabetic patients have increased severity of infections, delayed healing process, need more active interventions. As compared to the non-diabetic patients, they do show high risk of amputations and prolonged hospital stay.
doi:10.21276/sjams.2016.4.7.18 fatcat:252rfxxqrfd3plqyvujqmdgnme