Diabetic foot infections (DFIs) are one of the most important reasons for lower limb amputations. An adequate approach to the management of DFI implies control of infection using strategies of tissue debridement and empirical antibiotic treatment based on local microbiology. The aim of this study was to determine the bacterial isolates profile and antibiotic susceptibility patterns in samples from DFI from Latin American centers, on the premise that microbiology of this region differs from that of other continents and influences antimicrobial election. Three hundred and eighty-two samples from soft tissue and bone were studied from 17 centers of 4 countries. Three hundred and seven (80.4%; 95% confidence interval = 75.9-84.2) were positive. Gram negatives (GN) were isolated in 43.8% of all samples, not only in severe but also in mild infections, 51% in bone samples, more frequently in presence of ischemia (47% vs 38%; P = .07) and in wounds with longer duration of the lesion (30-20 days; P < .01). Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequent single germ (19.9%). Gram positives were isolated more frequently in patients without ischemia (53% vs 40%; P = .01). Enterococcus faecalis was the most frequent germ in bone samples (16.8%). Ciprofloxacin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole were the oral antimicrobials most effective against GN. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and rifampicin were the oral antimicrobials most effective against Staphylococcus. Because of GN high antibiotic resistance patterns, patients treated in an ambulatory setting have to be controlled early after starting empiric treatment to assess response to therapy and hospitalize for parenteral antibiotics if oral treatment fails.
Keywords: bacterial isolates; diabetic foot ulcers; diagnosis; lower extremity wound; microbiology; wound infection.