Study of Co-existence of Fungal infection in Diabetic Foot ulcers in Delhi Population

Background: Diabetic foot ulcers are common diseases in long standing type-II DM patients. Moreover in mostchronic diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) fungal infections were also observed which are difficult to diagnose in earlystages and patients end up with amputations if not treated aggressively.Method: 50 (fifty) known type-2 DM were studied – Tissue biopsy was collected from DFU and studiedmicrobiologically gram stain, gram’s Iodine test were done, LQCB test was done to rule out fungal infection.Results: 50 (Fifty) adults patients aged between 30 to 75 years having DFU were studied. Duration of DFU were 15(30%) were 3 months to 35 (70%) from 13 months to 36 months. Duration of DM 20 (40%) were 2 years to 5 years,30 (60%) were 6 to 10 years. HBALC – 14 (28%) was 6-7% and 36 (72%) had 8-15% RBS, 23 (46%) had 200-300, 27(54%) had 321 to 670, 17 (54%) had grade-II DFU, 22 (44%) had grade-III DFU, 11 (22%) had grade-IV DFU. Apartfrom Bacterial flora, 12 (24%) fungal infections were noted.Conclusion: Present study signifies the need of mycological evaluation of non-healing DFU. Apart fromantibacterial therapy, foot care, introduction of anti fungal treatment helps to heal the DFU in early stages andavoid the risk of amputation.