Comprehensive Analysis of Foot Flora Characteristics in Patients with Diabetes Foot and Study on the Difference Between Patients with Initial and Recurrent Foot Disease

Bowen Hong
Department of Traumatology and Orthopaedics, Wuxi Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Wuxi 214000, China
Jianwei Wang
Department of Traumatology and Orthopaedics, Wuxi Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Wuxi 214000, China.
Yi Zhou
Department of Traumatology and Orthopaedics, Wuxi Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Wuxi 214000, China
Shaoshuo Li
Department of Traumatology and Orthopaedics, Wuxi Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Wuxi 214000, China

Abstract:

Diabetic foot problems are a serious issue for people with diabetes; they can result in serious outcomes such as ulcers, infections, and amputations. The emergence of these problems is directly associated with changes in the skin flora of the foot because diabetes can lead to microbial population imbalances. The study aims to analyze the foot flora features of diabetic foot patients with foot diseases (FDs) and investigate the distinctions between patients with initial and recurrent FD of their life cycle management. The influence of foot flora on the course of the disease was examined by looking at the function that microbial communities play in the recurrence of diabetic FDs. A total of 175 patients with FDs participated in this study, which was divided into two groups: initial and recurrent. Microbial samples were collected from the foot ulcers of all patients. The microbial composition was diagnosed using microbiological cultures and molecular techniques. Differences in microbial diversity and pathogenicity between the initial and recurrent groups with SPSS version 29 using chi-square tests, t-tests and descriptive statistics. Compared to the initial FDs group, the recurrent FDs group showed a greater incidence of harmful microorganisms, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus of their life cycle management. Significant risk variables for recurrent infections were found by multivariate regression analysis to include callus development, vascular intervention, amputation history, and prolonged duration of diabetes. Diabetic individuals with recurrent FDs have distinct foot flora characteristics, such as decreased microbial diversity, biofilms development, and higher pathogenicity.