title: Prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in infected and uninfected diabetic foot ulcers.
abstract: This study investigated the prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in infected and uninfected diabetic foot ulcers of 84 patients with the two types of diabetes. S. aureus was the most common pathogen among the Gram-positive bacteria isolated from ulcers, and almost 50% of S. aureus isolates were MRSA. The prevalence of MRSA was significantly higher in patients with infected foot ulcers. MRSA infection or colonisation was not associated with factors (previous hospitalisation, use of antibiotics, etc.) known to predispose to MRSA colonisation or infection. The high prevalence of MRSA in patients with foot ulcers may reflect the increased prevalence of MRSA in the community.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Propaedeutic Medicine, Athens University Medical School, Athens, Greece. ntentol@med.uoa.gr
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tentolouris
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Petrikkos
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vallianou
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zachos
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Daikos
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tsapogas
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Markou
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Katsilambros
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D013207:Staphylococcal Skin Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification*