The Microbial Diversity and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Profile Underlying Diabetic Foot Osteomyelitis: A Retrospective Study Conducted in North Queensland, Australia.

Background: Diabetic foot osteomyelitis (DFO) commonly occurs secondary to ulcerations of the skin. Empirical antibiotic agents are a key element of treatment and their use is dependent on local knowledge of the microbial spectrum of diabetic foot infections. This study aimed to retrospectively analyze the local microbiological profile, including bacterial culture/sensitivity results of DFO, and compare findings with literature. This study also aimed to review the concordance of microbiology results with national guidelines for the future treatment of DFO. Methods: A retrospective review of clinical records was performed on patients who presented to the high-risk foot clinic, Townsville University Hospital, between 2018 and 2022. All patients older than 18 years and diagnosed with DFO were included. Our exclusion criteria included all other foot presentations, including trauma, vasculitis, and neoplasms. Results: On the basis of the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 124 patients with DFO were selected. Most patients in the cohort were males (70.2%), non-Indigenous (68.5%), aged 50-69 years (55.6%), and with elevated HbA Conclusion: This study has enhanced our understanding of the various microbial species underlying DFO at our center and may be generalizable. Level of Evidence: Level IV, retrospective case series.