CLINICO-BACTERIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF THE PATIENTS WITH DIABETIC FOOT ULCER

Introduction: The worldwide diabetic foot is a major medical problem leading to disability and economic instability of the family and the country. Objectives: To evaluate the clinical and bacteriological profile of diabetic foot ulceration and its relationship to demographic factors. Methodology: A hospital cross-sectional study was conducted in the Surgical Unit-II of Jinnah Hospital, Lahore for-one-year duration from March 2019 to March 2020. A total of 78 diabetic foot ulcers were screened, interviewed, clinically investigated and bacteriologically assessed according to a structured questionnaire and methods. Results: Up to 70.51% of cases were over 50 years of age, with a higher percentage, 76.9% in men. The majority of cases, 97.4%, were type II diabetes, with the maximum 48.7% of cases having ulcers for less than 10 days. Up to 67.94% of the ulcers were found on the right foot, 53.8% were Grade III or higher. Neuropathy, the major accompanying complication, was observed in 68% of cases, with an average of 1.8 bacteria per sample. Conclusion: As the severity of diabetic foot ulceration increases, so does the number of bacteria. Key words: diabetic foot ulceration, bacterial isolates, neuropath