THE MICROBIOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF LEG ULCERS AND INFECTED DERMATOSES IN PATIENTS REQUIRING HOSPITALIZATION

Citation
P. Teng et al., THE MICROBIOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF LEG ULCERS AND INFECTED DERMATOSES IN PATIENTS REQUIRING HOSPITALIZATION, Wounds, 5(3), 1993, pp. 133-136
Citations number
NO
Categorie Soggetti
Dermatology & Venereal Diseases
Journal title
WoundsACNP
ISSN journal
10447946
Volume
5
Issue
3
Year of publication
1993
Pages
133 - 136
Database
ISI
SICI code
1044-7946(1993)5:3<133:TMEOLU>2.0.ZU;2-7
Abstract
More than six billion dollars are spent on antibiotics in the United S tates annually. ciprofloxacin is a recently introduced oral antibiotic with anti-Pseudomonas activity. However, extensive use of ciprofloxac in has led to the emergence of resistant strains of Pseudomonas aerugi nosa. In this report, we undertook microbiological studies of the majo r bacteria in infected dermatologic conditions and leg ulcers in hospi talized patients. All patients with clinically suggested infected derm atoses or open wounds who were admitted to the Dermatology Inpatient U nit were cultured for aerobic organisms. The sensitivities/resistance of the organisms to commonly used antibiotics, with particular attenti on to ciprofloxacin, were studied. Disease categories under study incl uded: leg ulcers, infected dermatoses, deep wounds, abscesses, and cel lulitis. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was found predominantly in leg ulcers, and ciprofloxacin resistance was encountered in 19% of Pseudomonas or ganisms isolated from leg ulcers. Moreover, 39.5% of Staphylococcus au reus isolated from leg ulcers were also found to be resistant to cipro floxacin. Given the rapid emergence of resistance, the empirical use o f ciprofloxacin for infected leg ulcers is not recommended.