A Clinico-Bacteriological Study of Pyodermas at a Tertiary Health Center in Southwest Rajasthan

BACKGROUND: The spectrum of pyoderma changes constantly, and so does the antibiotic susceptibility pattern. AIMS: This study was done to assess the magnitude and clinical patterns of pyodermas, their causative micro-organisms, and the antibiotic susceptibility patterns. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five hundred consecutive, clinically diagnosed and untreated cases of pyoderma, attending the Dermatology OPD of RNT Medical College and MB Government Hospital, Udaipur, from October 2010 to September 2011 were the subjects of this study. A detailed clinical examination, and relevant investigations including bacterial culture and sensitivity, were carried out and recorded. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: For statistical analysis of data, the software ‘EPI-INFO Version 6’ was used, and Chi-square (χ(2)) test was applied. RESULTS: Of 19576 cases attending skin OPD during the study period, pyoderma was seen in 500 patients; the incidence being 2.55%. Males outnumbered females. The highest number of cases (109; 21.8%) was observed in 1st decade. Lower extremities were the commonest site of predilection. Primary pyodermas outnumbered secondary pyodermas. Furuncle (136; 27.2%) and infectious eczematoid dermatitis (62; 12.4%) were the commonest entities among primary and secondary pyoderma respectively. Staphylococcus aureus was the commonest causative agent in both primary and secondary pyoderma. It showed high susceptibility to amoxycillin + sulbactam, aminoglycosides and cefoperazone, moderate susceptibility to linezolid, while low susceptibility to fluoroquinolones and cephalexin. CONCLUSION: Such studies help to assess the changing trend of bacterial infections, their causative organisms and antibiotic susceptibility pattern.