Microbiology of Diabetic Foot Infections in U.S. Veterans

This study examined the prevalence of various microbes isolated from diabetes-related foot infections (DFIs) within the U.S. veteran population. A total of 68 different microbes were identified. The most frequently isolated organisms were methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (32.7%), coagulase-negative staphylococci (21.8%), methicillin-resistant S. aureus (15.9%), Enterococcus faecalis (14.6%), group B streptococci (12.4%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (10.1%), Proteus mirabilis (8.1%), viridans streptococci (7.3%), Escherichia coli (6.5%), Enterobacter cloacae (5.9%), and Corynebacterium species (5.6%). A better understanding of common DFI pathogens may help to guide empiric antibiotic selection when treating DFIs.