Assessment of Diabetic Foot Ulcers and Antibiotic Resistance Trends in the Southern Coastal Region of Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

The present study assesses antibiotic resistance trends among patients with diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) in the southern coastal region of Tamil Nadu, India. A total of 250 clinically confirmed DFU patients aged ≥30 years with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes mellitus and Wagner Grade 1–4 ulcers were included. Patient demographics, diabetes duration, comorbidities, ulcer site distribution, microbial isolates, and antibiotic susceptibility profiles were recorded and analysed. Microbiological identification and antibiotic sensitivity testing were conducted according to standard laboratory procedures to determine resistance patterns. The findings highlight an urgent need for culture-guided therapy and enhanced antibiotic stewardship. The findings highlight the critical need for culture-guided therapy, better antibiotic stewardship, and comprehensive foot-care regimens in diabetic populations to decrease complications and avoid amputations, with Klebsiella oxytoca (8%) being the major isolate. Staphylococcus aureus (9%), including MRSA (6%), represented major gram-positive organisms. Antibiotic susceptibility patterns showed the highest sensitivity to ceftriaxone (71%), whereas high resistance was seen to ciprofloxacin (73%), amoxicillin-clavulanate (89%), cephalexin (89%), amikacin (93%), and meropenem (82%). Antibiotic susceptibility tests found that ceftriaxone was the most sensitive, whereas amoxicillin + Clavulanate, cephalexin, ciprofloxacin, and amikacin were all widely resistant. The findings highlight an urgent need for culture-guided therapy and enhanced antibiotic stewardship. The findings highlight the critical need for culture-guided therapy, better antibiotic stewardship, and comprehensive foot-care regimens in diabetic populations to decrease complications and avoid amputations.