Comparison of efficacy of systemic antibiotics alone and combination of systemic antibiotics with gentamicin cream in diabetic foot infections

Objective: To compare efficacy of systemic antibiotics alone and combination of systemic antibiotics with gentamicin cream in diabetic foot infections.

Methods: Prospective Observational Study was conducted at Department of Surgery, Pakistan Ordinance Factories (POF) Hospital, Wah Cantt for duration of two years (January 2018-December 2019). A sample size of 140 diabetic foot infection patients (70 patients in each group) was calculated using WHO calculator. DFI patients were selected through non probability (consecutive) sampling technique. All patients signed consent forms before participation into study. Patients were randomly divided into two group (computer generated random number table); Group-A patients were given systemic antibiotics alone while Group-B was given combination of gentamicin cream and systemic antibiotics. SPSS version 24 was utilized for analysis purpose. Chi-square test was applied in our study. Results with p-value ≤0.05 found significant.

Results: Total 140 patients were included in study. There were 87(62.1%) male and 53(37.9%) females in our data. Mean age of patients was 46 years±11.3SD. Group-B (combination of gentamicin and systemic antibiotics) showed significant reduction in inflammation (p=0.03), culture negativity(p=0.001), increase clinical cure (p=0.02) and pathological eradication (p=0.03) as compared to Group-A (systemic antibiotics alone). Gender, age and duration of diabetes mellitus had insignificant association with outcomes (p>0.05).

Conclusion: Diabetic foot infections are significant contributors of morbidity in our country. Combination of gentamicin cream with systemic antibiotics is highly effective in inflammation reduction, increasing clinical cure rate and pathological eradication as compared to systemic antibiotics alone in diabetic foot infections. Early identification of risk factors, proper patients care and multidisciplinary approach for diabetic foot infections prevention is required.