Microbiological Status of Venous Leg Ulcers and Its Predictors: A Single-Center Cross-Sectional Study

Venous leg ulcers are frequently colonized by microbes. This can be particularly devastating if the ulcer is infected with alert pathogens, i.e., highly virulent microorganisms with well-developed mechanisms of antibiotic resistance. We analyzed the microbiological status of venous leg ulcers and id...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of environmental research and public health 2021-12, Vol.18 (24), p.12965
Main Authors: Cwajda-Białasik, Justyna, Mościcka, Paulina, Jawień, Arkadiusz, Szewczyk, Maria Teresa
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abscesses
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use
Antibiotic resistance
Antibiotics
Arteriosclerosis
Atherosclerosis
Chronic illnesses
Chronic infection
Colonization
Cross-Sectional Studies
Diabetes
Drug resistance
E coli
Humans
Leg
Leg ulcers
Logistic Models
Microbiological analysis
Microorganisms
Older people
Pathogens
Patients
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Regression analysis
Sociodemographics
Staphylococcus infections
Statistical analysis
Ulcers
Variables
Varicose Ulcer
Virulence
Wound Healing
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Summary:Venous leg ulcers are frequently colonized by microbes. This can be particularly devastating if the ulcer is infected with alert pathogens, i.e., highly virulent microorganisms with well-developed mechanisms of antibiotic resistance. We analyzed the microbiological status of venous leg ulcers and identified the clinicodemographic predictors of culture-positive ulcers, especially in ulcers with colonization by alert pathogens. This study included 754 patients with chronic venous leg ulcers. Material for microbiological analysis was collected by swabbing only from patients who did not receive any antibiotic treatment. A total of 636 (84.3%) patients presented with culture-positive ulcers. Alert pathogens, primarily Pseudomonas aeruginosa, were detected in 28.6% of the positive cultures. In a logistic regression model, culture-positive ulcers were predicted independently by age > 65 years, current ulcer duration > 12 months, and ulceration area greater than 8.25 cm . Two of these factors, duration of current ulcer > 12 months and ulceration area > 8.25 cm , were also identified as the independent predictors of colonization by alert pathogens. Colonization/infection is particularly likely in older persons with chronic and/or large ulcers. Concomitant atherosclerosis was an independent predictor of culture-negative ulcers.
ISSN:1660-4601
1661-7827
1660-4601
DOI:10.3390/ijerph182412965