BOFAS Abstracts Archive

You can search for abstracts by using the search bar below.
Alternatively you can browse through podium and poster presentations by selecting the year and / or type below. You can further refine your search using tags or use the search bar.

Search

RSS Abstracts 476 Expand/Collapse
- RSS 2013 64 Expand/Collapse
  - RSS Poster 24 Expand/Collapse
  - RSS Podium 40 Expand/Collapse
- RSS 2014 36 Expand/Collapse
  - RSS Podium 36 Expand/Collapse
- RSS 2015 49 Expand/Collapse
  - RSS Poster 20 Expand/Collapse
  - RSS Podium 29 Expand/Collapse
- RSS 2016 45 Expand/Collapse
  - RSS Poster 18 Expand/Collapse
  - RSS Podium 27 Expand/Collapse
- RSS 2017 40 Expand/Collapse
  - RSS Poster 15 Expand/Collapse
  - RSS Podium 25 Expand/Collapse
- RSS 2018 47 Expand/Collapse
  - RSS Poster 22 Expand/Collapse
  - RSS Podium 25 Expand/Collapse
- RSS 2019 48 Expand/Collapse
  - RSS Poster 25 Expand/Collapse
  - RSS Podium 23 Expand/Collapse
- RSS 2021 15 Expand/Collapse
  - RSS Poster 10 Expand/Collapse
  - RSS Podium 6 Expand/Collapse
- RSS 2022 46 Expand/Collapse
  - RSS Poster 23 Expand/Collapse
  - RSS Podium 23 Expand/Collapse
- RSS 2023 46 Expand/Collapse
  - RSS Poster 23 Expand/Collapse
  - RSS Podium 23 Expand/Collapse
- RSS 2024 40 Expand/Collapse
  - RSS Poster 18 Expand/Collapse
  - RSS Podium 22 Expand/Collapse

Categories: Abstracts, 2014, Podium

Comparison of microbiology cultures from deep tissue biopsies compared to superficial swabs from infected diabetic ulcers

S. Brookes-Fazakerley, D. Harvey, G. Jackson, S. Platt

¹Wirral University Teaching Hospitals, Wirral, United Kingdom

Introduction: Diabetic ulcer superficial swab cultures have a low specificity for guiding antibiotic treatment. Some studies have recently re-assessed and advocated the role of superficial swabs. We have performed an analysis of microbiology results in patients with infected diabetic ulcers to further appraise the need for using deep tissue cultures as a guide for antimicrobial treatment.

Methods: We reviewed 23 consecutive diabetic patients in 2013. All patients underwent investigation and treatment by the Orthopaedic department for deep, intractable diabetic ulceration. Microbiology culture results from superficial swabs were compared to deep tissue and bone biopsies.

Results: The mean numbers of isolates from soft tissue and bone biopsies were 2.1 and 1.8 respectively (range 1-4). The most prevalent organisms seen in deep samples were anaerobes (9 patients), Staphylococcus aureus (8 patients) and entrococci (4 patients). In superficial swabs, 74% cultured non-specific, mixed skin flora and enteric species. The remaining 6 patients cultured Staphylococcus aureus alone (1), with Steptococcus (2), Pseudomonas (2) and MRSA (1). All 23 soft tissue biopsies were culture positive, 19 bone biopsies were positive of which 14 grew the same organisms of soft tissue cultures. In deep tissue/ bone biopsies, 13/23 patients cultured specifically organisms that were seen non-specifically in superficial swab cultures. However, in 10 patients deep tissue specimens, grew organisms that were not cultured from superficial swabs with 6 of these being anaerobes.

Conclusion: We have shown that in 43% of cases, deep tissue cultures isolated organisms that were not grown by superficial swab cultures. In 26% of these cases the organism was an anaerobe favouring deep, low oxygen tension environments. We refute recent evidence claiming the value of superficial swabs. We implore physicians treating patients with these ulcers to refer to an Orthopaedic surgeon to perform deep tissue biopsies and treat according to their culture results.

Print

Tags: Diabetes

Click thumbnail below to view poster / thumbnail:

Archive of Abstracts