TYPE II DIABETES MELLITUS

FREQUENCY OF CUTANEOUS BACTERIAL INFECTIONS IN PATIENTS WITH TYPE II DIABETES MELLITUS

Abstract

Introduction: Diabetes Mellitus is a syndrome with disordered metabolism
and inappropriate hyperglycemia due to either deficiency of insulin secretion or combination
of insulin resistance and inadequate insulin. Infections constitute the main bulk of cutaneous
manifestations of diabetes mellitus with incidence ranging between 20–50%. Bacteria and
fungi can cause infective complications involving skin and nails of the diabetic patients. The
major share of infections in Diabetes Mellitus is contributed by bacteria. The most common
causative organisms are Staphylococcus aurous and beta-hemolytic Streptococci. Objective:
to determine the frequency of cutaneousbacterial Infections in patients with type II Diabetes
Mellitis, attending outpatient clinic in a tertiary care hospital. Study Design: Cross sectional
study. Setting: Department of Dermatology and Medicine, Dr. Ziauddin University Hospital,
KDLB Campus, Karachi. Period: 1st January 2017 till 31st March 2017 over a period of three
months. Material and methods: Adult patients already diagnosed to be suffering from type 2
Diabetes Mellitis presenting with cutaneous manifestations were included in the study. Patients
fulfilling the selection criteria were enrolled after an informed consent. Relevant laboratory
investigations were advised where required. Current study targeted bacterial infections only
and Chi-square test was used to determine P value. Data obtained was compiled, tabulated
and analyzed by SPSS. Result: Total of 302 cases of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitis having some
cutaneous manifestations were enrolled. There were 124 (41%) males and 178 (59%) females.
Mean age of presentation was 50 ± 11 years, the age range being 30-80 years. The mean
duration of diabetes was 8.5 ± 7 years (range being 1-30 years). Unsatisfactory glycemic control
was present in 205 (68%) patients. Among the enrolled subjects bacterial infections were the
most frequently seen skin disease accounting for 79 patients (26%). Among the patients with
these bacterial infections uncontrolled Diabetes was a feature in 61 (77%). The breakup of
bacterial infections (59) in the descending order of frequency stood as follows: cellulitis 22
(28%), carbuncle 17 (21%), furuncle 14 (18%), ecthyma 13 (16%), folliculitis 09 (12%), and
impetigo 04 (5%). Conclusion: Cutaneous infections are a common feature in patients with
Type II Diabetes Mellitis, bacterial infections being the most common.