INCIDENCE OF MYCOTIC INFECTIONS IN DIABETIC FOOT TISSUE

The objective of the study was to investigate the incidence of fungal pathogens in diabetic foot infections. A total of 74 Type II diabetic patients with non-healing diabetic foot infections were recruited for the study. Among the diabetic patients 65 % (48/74) had yeast and mold infections. Pathogenic yeasts were noted in 77 % of the patients of which Candida species was predominant (93 %). The major Candida species isolated were C. albicans (49 %), C. tropicalis (23 %), C. parapsilosis (18 %), C. guillermondi (5 %) and C. krusei (5 %). The other yeast species isolated were Trichosporon cutaneum and T. capitatum. Trichophyton spp. was the only dermatophytic fungus found. Molds were isolated from 38 % of the infected patients of which Aspergillus species predominated (72 %). The other molds isolated were Fusarium solani, Penicillium marneffei and Basidiobolus ranarum. The results of the study indicate the need for mycological evaluation of the non-healing diabetic foot tissues and appropriate antifungal therapy