Table 1. Microbiological Studies of Diabetic Foot Ulcers.
| Study | Definition of Clinical Infection | Severity of Infection | Wound Specimen | Culture Procedures | Number of Isolates | Organisms |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Armstrong et al. (1995) (N = 112) | Dx of infection in medical record | Unclear | Wound tissue or bone | Qualitative | 1.5 | S. aureus 51%, anaerobes 7% |
| Diamantopoulos et al. (1998) (N = 84) | Explicit criteria: Extensive cellulitis, necrotizing fasciitis, and osteomyelitis | Limb-threatening | Wound tissue | Qualitative | 2.8 | S. aureus 51%, anaerobes 21 % |
| El-Tahawy (2000) (N = 111) | Unstated | Unclear | Exudates, aspirate, or wound tissue | Qualitative | Not reported | S. aureus 28%, anaerobes 11 % |
| Foster et al. (1998) (N = 64) | Unstated | Unclear | Swab | Unclear | Not reported | Not reported |
| Goldstein et al. (1996) (N = 25) | Vague criteria | Mild to moderate | Swab or exudates | Qualitative | 3.0 | S. aureus 76%, anaerobes 40% |
| Johnson et al. (1995) (N = 52) | Unstated | Limb-threatening | Swab (anaerobic) and aspirate | Qualitative (anaerobes only) | Not reported | Anaerobes 74% |
| Lipsky et al. (1990) (N = 50) | Explicit criteria: Pus plus two signs of inflammation or drainage | Mild | Swab and exudates or aspirate | Qualitative | 2.09 | S. aureus 54%, anaerobes 13% |
| Louie et al. (1976) (N = 20) | Cellulitis | Noninfected and infected with range of severity | Wound tissue | Qualitative | 5.8 | Peptococcus 80%, S. aureus 35% |
| Prabhakar et al. (1981) (N = 61) | Unstated | Gangrenous and infected | Wound tissue or swab | Qualitative | Not reported | Gangrenous: Proteus 72%, Nongangrene: S. pyogenes 46% |
| Sapico et al. (1980) (N =13) | Unstated | Scheduled for amputation | Swab, aspirate, and necrotic wound tissue | Quantitative | 4.7 | Proteus 31 %, S. aureus 23%, anaerobes 23% |
| Sapico et al. (1984) (N = 32) | Unstated | Scheduled for amputation | Swab, aspirate, and necrotic wound base | Quantitative | 4.81 | Group D strep 41%, anaerobes 28%, S. aureus 25% |
| Wheat et al. (1986) (N = 28 with reliable specimens) | Explicit criteria: Cellulitis, osteomyelitis, necrotizing fasciitis, and abscess | Mild to limb-threatening | Exudates or wound tissue or bone | Qualitative | Not reported | S. aureus 37%, anaerobes 22% |
Note: Dx = diagnosis; S. aureus = Staphylococcus aureus; S. pyogenes = Streptococcus pyogenes; Group D strep = Group D streptococci.