ABSTRACT
Introduction: Foot Ulcer is the most frequent complicationof Diabetes Mellitus related to lower extremities with highmorbidity. Infection is an important component of foot ulcer.The present study was undertaken to study the clinical andmicrobiological profile of diabetic foot ulcer in a tertiary carecenter.Material and Methods: It is a prospective observational studywhich has been conducted at VIMSAR, Burla from November2017 to November 2019. Consecutive patients of Diabeticfoot ulcers were included in this study. After admissiondetailed history and biochemical investigations were donein all cases. Nerve Conduction study, doppler of lower limbwere performed to assess peripheral neuropathy and vasculardisease. The ulcers were graded according to Wagner’sstaging. Swabs were taken for culture and sensitivity.Results: Out of 1234 patients of DM admitted to the hospital,116 (9.4%) patients had foot ulcer. There were 87 (75.0%)males and 29 (25.0%) females with M:F ratio of 3:1. 95(81.9%) patients were from rural and 21 (18.1%) from urbanarea. Majority (n=44, 38.0%) of patients belonged to 51-60years of age and only 3 (2.0%) were within 21 to 30 years.Type-1 and -2 DM was found in 4 (3.0%) and 112 (97.0%)patients and the duration of DM was given. Grade-2 ulcerwas found in 62 (53.5%) cases. Risk factors like peripheralneuropathy, retinopathy and nephropathy were present in(n=65, 56.1%), 24 (20.7%) and 35 (30.1%) cases respectively.Early signs of ulcerative lesion like abundant callus, crackfoot, blistering was present in 28 (24.1%), 54 (46.6%),10(8.6%) cases respectively.Conclusion: This study showed that foot ulcer is a commonchronic complication of DM mostly found in elderly patientswith poor glycemic control from rural areas. S.aureus andP.aeruginosa are the common organisms detected from theulcer.