Endocrine Abstracts

Aim:
To determine the type of infections in admitted diabetics for the introduction of preventive measures.
Method:
Medical records of diabetics admitted to the medical unit of King Abdulaziz University Hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in the period between January 1999 to December 1999 were studied. Positive cultures were identified and the following informations were collected, age, sex, type of diabetes and it's duration, type of infection, causative organism, presence of renal failure, ischemic heart disease, intensive care unit admission, use of mechanical ventilator, duration of hospital stay as well as outcome.
Results:
One-hundred and thirteen cases were studied with mean age of 60 years and M:F ratio of 1.4:1. Most of the patients,100/ 113 (89%) were type-2 diabetics with mean duration of diabetes of 14 years. Blood stream infection accounted for 35 / 113 (31%) of the total infection followed by respiratory 27 / 113 (24%), urinary 25 / 113 (22%), and foot infection 17 / 113(15%). Forty-six of 113 (41%) died. Mortality was significantly associated with old age, long duration of diabetes, prolonged hospital stay, presence of renal failure , ischemic heart disease, and ICU admission.
Conclusion:
Blood stream infection is the commonest type of infection in admitted diabetics . It is important to implement infections surveillance measures and to have strict control of procedures related infections