Type, course and outcome of community acquired infections in hospitalized diabetics

• Main Authors: Eirini Tsakiridou, Konstantinos Argyriou, Dimosthenis Makris, Epameinondas Zakynthinos
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2010-10-01
• Series: Microbiology Research
• Subjects: infection, diabetes mellitus, bacteremia.
• Online Access: http://www.pagepress.org/journals/index.php/mr/article/view/1832

Diabetes mellitus has been associated with increased frequency of serious infections which are attributed to immune deficiencies. The aims of this study were to investigate the type, course and outcomes of community acquired infections, and especially bacteremia in diabetics hospitalized for infection. One hundred and thirty-four consecutive patients (67 diabetics and 67 non-diabetics) matched for age, who were admitted to a general District Hospital in Greece due to infection, were included in this case control study. Diabetics presented urinary infections (46.3% vs. 26.8%, P=0.006), skin infections (9% vs. 0%, P=0.007) and bacteremia (11.1% vs. 1.5%, P=0.023) more often than controls. The most common microorganisms in diabetics were Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Streptococcus species and fungi. Diabetics had a significantly prolonged hospital stay (6.7±5.4 vs. 4.5±2.4, P=0.003) compared to controls. In-hospital mortality was similar in both groups (10.4% vs. 3%, P=0.082) but diabetics had an increased risk from death due to bacteremia (Log-odds 4.2, SE=1.1, P<0.0001). Although the analyzed cohorts are small, we found that patients with diabetes mellitus have longer hospitalization related to infections and are at increased risk of bacteremia which may result in adverse outcome.