Association of Staphylococcal Skin and Soft Tissue Infections (SSTIs) among Diabetic Patients

Background: Skin and soft tissue infection associated with diabetes is one of the major concerns. The early diagnosis of SSTIs is crucial in the patients having diabetes, to prevent deep infection like Osteomyelitis, septicemia, and necrotizing fasciitis. Materials and methods: The clinical sample of SSTI were collected, and screened for staphylococcal infections. The association of Staphylococcal SSTIs was correlated with diabetic patients. All the isolates were further subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing as per CLSI guidelines. Results: A total of 134 staphylococcal species isolated from SSTIs infections, Out of 134 isolates, 125(93.3%) were Staphylococcus aureus, 5(3.7%) were S.saprophyticus and 4(3%) were S.epidermidis. The diabetic mellitus (30%) were significantly associated with SSTIs followed by high blood pressure 2(1.5%), however 91 (67.9%) patients don’t have any co-morbidity. In our study, Abscesses 40(29.9%) were found to be more frequent SSTI followed by surgical site infection 32(23.9%), diabetic foot ulcer 27(20.1%), boils 20(14.9%), and 15(11.2%) were cellulitis. All the isolates were 100% susceptible to Linezolid, Vancomycin, and ceftaroline. Discussion: The co-morbid conditions are one of the major risk factor associated with skin and soft tissue infections that lead to long term therapy and increasing cost of treatment. In present study the single most co-morbid condition i.e. - diabetes are significantly associated with SSTIs.

Keywords: Diabetes, SSTIs, Staphylococci, AST, MLSb phenotypes