Concomitant Bacterial Isolation in Patients with Tinea Pedis: A Comparative Study of Diabetic and Non-diabetic Patients
Abstract
Background: Athlete's foot is a prevalent superficial fungal infection that disturbs the skin's natural equilibrium, encouraging bacterial growth and infection.
Objective: To elucidate the prevalence and distribution of bacteria isolated concurrently from individuals with athlete's foot, contrast bacterial isolation trends between diabetic and non-diabetic individuals, and analyze the antibiotic resistance profiles of predominant bacterial isolates.
Methodology: A comparative cross-sectional study involved 100 participant (50 people with diabetes and 50 healthy individuals) diagnosed with tinea pedis through potassium hydroxide. Bacterial isolates were recognized using the VITEK® 2 Compact System. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was conducted utilizing the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion technique.
Results: Bacterial isolates were found in 82.0% of patients with diabetes and 68.0% of patients without diabetes, although the differences lacked statistical significance (χ²= 2.61, p=0.106). Diabetic individuals experienced a markedly higher occurrence of chronic foot wounds. In patients with diabetes, Staphylococcus hemolyticus and Staphylococcus aureus were the predominant isolates, whereas coagulase-negative staphylococci were often found in non-diabetic individuals. Gram-negative bacteria like Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were found more often in patients with diabetes. Among the primary staphylococcal isolates, penicillin resistance was the highest, whereas vancomycin and linezolid exhibited great effectiveness. Pseudomonas aeruginosa demonstrated the greatest sensitivity to amikacin, followed by ceftazidime, tobramycin, and finally meropenem. Diabetic individuals displayed a wider variety of Gram-negative bacteria and a notably higher rate of Staphylococcus isolation.
Conclusion: The significance of culture-based diagnosis and antibiotic susceptibility testing prior to starting antibiotic therapy was underscored by the significant penicillin resistance.
How to Cite This Article
Safana K Jassim, Huda Hakim S ALAsadi (2026). Concomitant Bacterial Isolation in Patients with Tinea Pedis: A Comparative Study of Diabetic and Non-diabetic Patients . International Journal of Biological and Biomedical Research (IJBBMR), 2(5), 79-86. DOI: https://doi.org/10.54660/IJBBR.2026.2.5.79-86