The Prevalence of Coagulase-Positive Staphylococci Colonization among Diabetic Patients with Foot Ulcers at Vihiga County Referral Hospital, Kenya

Abstract

Aim: To investigate the prevalence of Coagulase-positive Staphylococci colonization among diabetic patients with foot ulcers at Vihiga County Referral Hospital, Kenya. Study Design: This study employed a hospital based cross- sectional study design of diabetic patients with foot ulcers at Vihiga County Referral Hospital, Vihiga County, Kenya. Place and Duration of Study: Vihiga County Referral Hospital, Kenya between February 2016 and April 2016. Methodology: The study population comprised of 225 adult diabetic patients and a sample size of 156 patients with foot ulcers who attend Vihiga County Referral Hospital for treatment. Pus specimens from foot ulcers of diabetic patients were swabbed aseptically for Coagulase-positive Staphylococci screening. Gram staining was done to determine the organism present. Subsequently, the specimens were inoculated on to Blood Agar (BA) plates incubated at 37°C for 24 - 48 hours. Isolated colonies were further tested for the production of free coagulase enzyme using the tube coagulase test, based on standard methods. Coagulase-positive Staphylococci ATCC 25923, a known coagulase producer was included as a control strain. Results: 94 out of 156 pus swabs were coagulase positive. This implied that the prevalence of Coagulase-positive staphylococci was 94(60.3%) among Diabetic patients with foot ulcers seeking treatment at Vihiga County Referral Hospital, Kenya. Socio demographics of participants indicated that majority of the participants were; male at (51.3%), over 60 years at (43.6%), married at (85.3%) and had up to primary education at (60.3%). Conclusion: Diabetic patients with foot ulcers at Vihiga County Referral Hospital, Kenya are prone to Coagulase-positive staphylococci colonization.