Isolation and antibiotic susceptibility of bacteria from foot infections in the patients with diabetes mellitus type I and type II in the district of Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu, India

Background:Diabetic foot infections are important cause of morbidity and mortality among persons with diabetes mellitus. The reported prevalence rates in India range from 0.9–8.3%. Diabetes foot lesions are the leading cause of non-traumatic amputations worldwide. A study has been conducted to isolate and find the antibiotic susceptibility pattern of the bacteria from diabetic foot infections from the patients of Kancheepuram district, Tamil Nadu, India.Methods:Sixty patients previously diagnosed or newly diagnosed as diabetic, presented with lower extremity infection attending Tagore medical college and hospital and its peripheral centres were selected for the study. Various specimens (pus, wound exudates, or tissues biopsy) for microbiological studies were obtained from the infected region. The specimens were cultured on blood agar and MacConkey agar for aerobic / facultative anaerobic organisms and on Neomycin Blood Agar for anaerobic organism. The plates were then incubated at 37°C. For anaerobic culture the plates were incubated in the McIntosh anaerobic jar. Isolates obtained are identified by standard laboratory techniques.Results:The result showed that Pseudomonas aeruginosa (48.3%) is the predominant bacterium followed by Staphylococcus aureus (38%) and other bacteria. The anaerobic bacteria are also isolated from the diabetic foot ulcers. The Peptostreptococcus species (26.7%) are the predominant bacteria followed by other bacteria. Further the results showed that 22 patients (37%) showed the multi-bacterial infection and remaining 38 patients (63%) showed mono bacterial infection. The drugs like amikacin, cefepine, ciprofloxacin, cotrimoxazole and roxythromycin are sensitive to many gram positive bacterial isolates.Conclusion:The present study has given the data of various bacteria encountered in the diabetic foot ulcer in the district of Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu, India and its antibiotic sensitivity pattern. The results clearly reveal that there is no definite aetiology in diabetic foot infections. Many patients presented the infection with the involvement of many bacteria. Further it is evident that many bacteria are multi drug resistant and thus complicating the management of diabetic foot infections.

An analysis of ocular features and vision loss at presentation and after treatment in systemic lupus erythematosus in 60 patients

Introduction: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem autoimmune disease and ocular involvement occurs in several forms. It may be the first indicator of underlying SLE. Early identification and precise treatment of the disease can reduce blindness. The objective of this study was to analyze the causes of visual loss before and during treatment. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study on 60 patients over 2 years in multispecialty, tertiary eye care hospital. Ophthalmic examination and routine and ancillary investigations were performed. Patients were followed up for at least one year to assess the progress of ocular features, their response to treatment and development of complications. Case records from a referral practice in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, with diagnosis of dry eye, peripheral ulcerative keratitis, episcleritis, scleritis, uveitis, retinitis or optic neuropathy were analyzed. Results: In our study, the incidence of episcleritis was most frequent followed by dry eye, retinopathy and keratitis. Age group affected was 34 to 52 years and more in women. Scleritis was associated with decreased vision and maximum complications. Following treatment, cataract was the commonest cause of blindness. Conclusion: Our study showed the presence of simultaneous, multiple ocular complications which make treatment and follow up very crucial to avoid blindness. Ocular signs that occurs in SLE can be vision threatening and requires immediate assessment and management by an ophthalmologist. Drugs used to treat SLE may also cause blindness and coordinated treatment between rheumatologist, physician and ophthalmologist needs to be adopted