A Study on the Conventional and Molecular Approaches for the Identification of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Its Antimicrobial Susceptibility Pattern in Diabetic Foot Ulcers

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a major health concern, and the development of foot ulcers is a serious complication. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a common causative pathogen in diabetic foot infections, which can lead to delayed wound healing and increased morbidity. This study aims to compare the diagnostic performance of conventional microbiological methods and molecular techniques (polymerase chain reaction [PCR]) for the identification of P. aeruginosa in diabetic foot ulcers and to evaluate its antimicrobial susceptibility pattern. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital, involving 134 patients with diabetic foot ulcers. Samples were collected and conventional culture methods were used to identify the pathogens and perform antimicrobial susceptibility testing. In addition, a single-step DNA extraction method (AmpReady) and conventional PCR were utilized for the molecular identification of P. aeruginosa. Results: The study found that the PCR technique was more efficient than conventional culture methods in identifying P. aeruginosa, with 44% detection by PCR compared to 14% by conventional culture. According to the antimicrobial susceptibility testing, co-trimoxazole was the most resistant drug against P. aeruginosa, while amikacin was the most sensitive. Conclusion: The study highlights the importance of using molecular techniques like PCR for accurate and faster identification of pathogens like P. aeruginosa in diabetic foot ulcers, which is crucial for appropriate antibiotic treatment and management of these infections. The findings contribute to a better understanding of the diagnostic validity and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of P. aeruginosa in diabetic foot ulcers, which can aid in improving clinical management and outcomes for these patients.