A Retrospective Analysis of Microbiologic Profile of Foot Infections in Patients With Diabetic End-Stage Renal Disease

Abstract

Objective. Individuals with diabetes and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) are at increased risk of foot ulceration and lower extremity amputation. Although risk factors and microbiologic analysis of diabetic foot infections (DFIs) have been extensively studied, there are limited data available for this characteristic group. Methods. Clinical, demographic, laboratory, microbiological data, and foot examination information were collected retrospectively regarding 94 patients with ESRD who were referred for DFI between 2006 and 2016 to hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Results. In 6 of 94 patients with ESRD (mean age 60 years; 65 males [69.1%], 29 women [30.8%]; 91 undergoing hemodialysis [96.8%], one peritoneal dialysis [1%], two [2%] recent renal transplants), the lesions were bilateral; therefore, the evaluations were made over 100 DFIs. The most common pathogens isolated in deep wound cultures were Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, respectively, contributing to 27 (21.2%) and 16 (12.5%) of all 127 isolates. When the distribution of the isolates according to different Wagner grades were analyzed, it was found that the proportion of Gramnegative isolates increased statistically significantly with the ascending Wagner grade (P = .004). Conclusion. DFIs indicate a serious complication associated with a high risk of amputation, prolonged antibiotic treatment, increased hospital and procedure demands, and the cost of health care, on patients with ESRD. The familiarization of causative pathogens underlying DFIs can aid the clinicians in the choice of appropriate empirical antibiotic treatment. This study emphasizes the need for greater attention to risk factors and the microbiologic profile of DFIs in this characteristic group.