European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Introduction: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is the main cause of illness and mortality in both developed and developing nations. Patients with DM are more likely to get skin and soft tissue infections, urinary tract infections and pneumonia. The organisms that cause pneumonia are generally like those found in the general population; however, gram negative organisms are predominant in DM. The present study was thus planned to study the demographical and etiological profile in diabetics and non-diabetics with respect to clinical presentation.
Materials & Methods: This was a Prospective study of 60 patients in a territory care centre; complete clinical history was taken followed by a thorough clinical examination. The relevant recorded as per the proforma.
Results: Majority of the study subjects were in the age group of 40-60 years in the current study with no significant difference in the age group between the two groups. Of the total study population males were predominant with no statistical difference between the two groups. Polymicrobial followed by gram negative were found more among the diabetics than in non-diabetics in gram staining. Sputum culture showed that streptococcal pneumonia is the common organism in both DM and non-DM. Polymicrobial infection was found more predominant in diabetics than in non-diabetics
Conclusion: In view of predominant polymicrobial and gram negative bacilli etiology, choice of empirical antibiotic regimens for treatment of pneumonia in DM should cover these wide range of organisms.