title: Leprosy ulcers in a rural hospital of Ethiopia: pattern of aerobic bacterial isolates and drug sensitivities.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Plantar ulcers, which commonly occur in leprosy patients, tend to recur increasing physical disability. The aim of this study is to identify both the bacteriological profile of these ulcers and the antibiotic susceptibility of the isolated bacteria.
  
  
  METHODS
  68 leprosy patients with chronic ulcers attending the in-patient department of Gambo General Hospital, West Arsi, were included in this study. Proper sample collection, inoculation on culture media, and final identification using biochemical methods were undertaken.
  
  
  RESULTS
  66 patients (97.1%) had a positive culture. A total of 81 microorganisms were isolated. Multiple organisms (two or more) were isolated in 15 (22.7% out of positive culture) patients. The main isolation was Proteus spp (30.9%), followed by Escherichia coli (21.0%), Staphylococcus aureus (18.5%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (9.9%). In the total number of the isolated bacteria, the antibiotics with less resistance were gentamicin (18.5%), fosfomycin (22.2%) cefoxitin (24.7%), ceftriaxone (25.9%) ciprofloxacin (25.9%), and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (28.49%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The bacteriological study of plantar ulcers of leprosy patients revealed Enterobacteriaceae and S. aureus as the main pathogens involved in such infections. The results of this study may guide empirical therapy in a rural area hospital where culture and susceptibility testing facilities are scarce.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Laboratory, Gambo Rural General Hospital, Kore, West-Arsi, Gambo, Ethiopia. jramosrincon@yahoo.es.|Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, Alicante, Spain. jramosrincon@yahoo.es.|Department of Medicine, Universidad Miguel Hernández, San Juan Campus, C/ Pintor Baeza s/n, 03010, Alicante, Spain. jramosrincon@yahoo.es.
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Laboratory, Gambo Rural General Hospital, Kore, West-Arsi, Gambo, Ethiopia. ramontanoira@hotmail.com.|Department of Clinical Microbiology, Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain. ramontanoira@hotmail.com.|Departament of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain. ramontanoira@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Ramón
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pérez-Tanoira
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Laboratory, Gambo Rural General Hospital, Kore, West-Arsi, Gambo, Ethiopia. crisg.garcia@gmail.com.|Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital General Virgen de la Luz, Cuenca, Spain. crisg.garcia@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: García-García
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Laboratory, Gambo Rural General Hospital, Kore, West-Arsi, Gambo, Ethiopia. lauraprieto83@gmail.com.|Division of Infectious Diseases, Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain. lauraprieto83@gmail.com.|Departament of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain. lauraprieto83@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Prieto-Pérez
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital General Universitario de Albacete, Albacete, Spain. mc_mamen84@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: María C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Bellón
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital General Universitario de Albacete, Albacete, Spain. fmateosrodriguez@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mateos
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Laboratory, Gambo Rural General Hospital, Kore, West-Arsi, Gambo, Ethiopia. gabre_tissiano@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Gabre
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tisisano
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Laboratory, Gambo Rural General Hospital, Kore, West-Arsi, Gambo, Ethiopia. gambo.ho@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Tafese
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yohannes
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Laboratory, Gambo Rural General Hospital, Kore, West-Arsi, Gambo, Ethiopia. francireyes80@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Reyes
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Laboratory, Gambo Rural General Hospital, Kore, West-Arsi, Gambo, Ethiopia. mgorgolas@me.com.|Division of Infectious Diseases, Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain. mgorgolas@me.com.|Departament of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain. mgorgolas@me.com.
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Górgolas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001420:Bacteria, Aerobic / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D004755:Enterobacteriaceae / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005002:Ethiopia; D005260:Female; D016523:Foot Ulcer / Q000382:microbiology*; D006780:Hospitals, Rural; D006801:Humans; D007918:Leprosy / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents