Bacteriology and Antibiotic Sensitivity for Diabetic Foot Ulcer

Polymicrobial nature of diabetic foot infection has been well documented in the literature. Initial antibiotic therapy of diabetic foot infection is usually empiric until reliable culture data is shown. This study was carried out to determine the common bacteriological flora of diabetic foot infection and antimicrobial sensitivity pattern in order to enhance possible empiric treatment. The specimens were obtained from wounds of 207 cases of diabetic foot ulcer, and the bacteriological isolation, and antimicrobial susceptibility tests of the isolates were carried out by standard microbiological methods. Staphylococcus aureus was the most common isolate, with 46.2% of recover rate among total bacterial isolated cases. Among gram-negative organisms, Pseudomonas aeruginosa was most common. Gram-positive organisms showed significant susceptibility to clindamycin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, and levofloxacin, besides vancomycin. Cefoperazone, piperacillin/tazobactam, and amikacin in addition to imipenem were most effective agents compared to gram-negative organisms. Diabetic foot infection requires use of combined antimicrobial therapy for initial management. Our results indicate that the most effective antibiotic combination for diabetic foot infection of Korean patients is clindamycin plus cefoperazone.

A Combined Therapy of Steroid Injection, Silicone Gel Sheeting, and Laser for Hypertrophic Scar and Keloid

PURPOSE: For hypertrophic scars and keloids no universally effective treatment modality exists. Surgical revision, intralesional steroid injection, silicone gel sheeting, pressure, laser, and others have been used with variable success, but many treatments are associated with high recurrence rates. Although optimal treatment remains undefined, successful treatment can be obtained through a combined therapeutic approach. METHODS: We used three therapeutic modalities in combination, which are intralesional injection of triamcinolone acetonide, silicone gel sheeting, and 585 nm flashlamp-pumped pulsed dye laser. Fifty-eight cases of hypertrophic or keloid scar were treated by combined therapeutic regimen for mean period of 18 months. The changes of thickness, color, and pliability of scars were evaluated with clinical photographs by grading scale. RESULTS: As summing the grades and categorizing the result into three group, we obtained 28% good, 67% fair, and 5% poor results. There was a desirable improvement of scars with insignificant adverse effects. CONCLUSION: Combination of intralesional steroid injection, silicone gel sheeting, and pulsed dye laser can lead to successful treatment of hypertrophic scar and keloid.

A Combined Therapy of Steroid Injection, Silicone Gel Sheeting, and Laser for Hypertrophic Scar and Keloid

PURPOSE: For hypertrophic scars and keloids no universally effective treatment modality exists. Surgical revision, intralesional steroid injection, silicone gel sheeting, pressure, laser, and others have been used with variable success, but many treatments are associated with high recurrence rates. Although optimal treatment remains undefined, successful treatment can be obtained through a combined therapeutic approach. METHODS: We used three therapeutic modalities in combination, which are intralesional injection of triamcinolone acetonide, silicone gel sheeting, and 585 nm flashlamp-pumped pulsed dye laser. Fifty-eight cases of hypertrophic or keloid scar were treated by combined therapeutic regimen for mean period of 18 months. The changes of thickness, color, and pliability of scars were evaluated with clinical photographs by grading scale. RESULTS: As summing the grades and categorizing the result into three group, we obtained 28% good, 67% fair, and 5% poor results. There was a desirable improvement of scars with insignificant adverse effects. CONCLUSION: Combination of intralesional steroid injection, silicone gel sheeting, and pulsed dye laser can lead to successful treatment of hypertrophic scar and keloid.