A study of biofilm formation in diabetic foot ulcer patients in a tertiary care hospital

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a widespread chronic illness with a steadily rising global prevalence. Among its most serious and financially burdensome complications are foot infections, which are often caused by pathogenic bacteria. These infections can be further complicated when the bacteria involved are resistant to antibiotics and equipped with multiple virulence factors, making effective treatment more difficult and reducing the chances of a successful recovery.These bacterial communities can be organized in polymicrobial communities, which may be responsible for diabetic foot ulcer chronicity. Therefore, this study was undertaken to identify the bacterial profile in infected foot ulcers, assess their patterns of antibiotic resistance, and evaluate their ability to form biofilms. Aims: • To identify the spectrum of bacteria causing diabetic wound infection and antimicrobial sensitivity pattern in our hospital. • To detect the biofilm formation among these bacteria. Methods: This was a prospective study carried out in a tertiary care medical facility. Samples were collected from 100 patients over the age of 18 with diabetic foot ulcers and they were processed using standard techniques for culture and sensitivity. Biofilm production was assessed using three different techniques: the Tissue Culture Plate (TCP) method, the Tube Method, and the Congo Red Agar (CRA) method. Data was analysed statistically. Results: A total of 129 bacterial isolates were obtained from 100 patients with diabetic foot ulcers. The age group of these patients ranged from 28 to 86 years with maximum number in the age group 40-60 years. Klebsiella was the predominant organism (31.78%), followed by E.coli. Biofilm