Distribution of infections in diabetic patients according to tissues and organs

Infections are more frequent in diabetic patients than in other patient populations. At the Vuk Vrhovac Institute, University Clinic for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, 9, 746 patients were hospitalized in the 1986-1994 period, and infection was diagnosed in 1, 550 (15.9%) patients. Most severe and most frequent infections were on foot. Gangrene was present in 5.4% and phlegmon in 0.9% of patients. In 380 isolates taken from surface tissue, the most frequently isolated species were Staphylococcus (27%) and Proteus (14%). In deep structure (tissue and bone) isolates, Staphylococcus was isolated in 42%, Streptococcus in 17% and Enterobacter in 11% of the samples. Concerning internal organs and systems, the urinary system was most frequently involved (3.3%). Sixteen microorganism species were isolated from urine. Multiple and single species were isolated in 20% of the samples each. Candida was most frequently isolated (20%), followed by Staphylococcus (19%), Escherichia coli (18%) and Streptococcus. In one immunocompromised patient (immunosuppressive therapy), hyperinfestation by Strongyloides stercoralis, so-called overwhelming strongyloidosis, was postmorally diagnosed.