Sensitivity of Amoxicillin-Clavulanic Acid in Diabetic Foot Ulcers: A Cross-Sectional Study from Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to determine the sensitivity of amoxicillin-clavulanic acid in Diabetic Foot Ulcer
patients admitted to the Department of Medicine, Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar.
Study Design: Cross-sectional study.
Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Department of Medicine, Khyber Teaching
Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan from November 27, 2021, to May 26, 2022.
Methods: A total of 141 patients (aged 35–80 years) with type 2 diabetes and Diabetic Foot Ulcer of at least 2
weeks' duration were enrolled using a non-probability consecutive sampling technique. After obtaining ethical
committee approval and informed consent, culture specimens were collected from the ulcers and processed in
the hospital laboratory for culture and sensitivity testing. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social
Sciences (SPSS) version 22.
Results: The study population had a mean age of 56.56 ± 15 years, with 59.6% males and 40.4% females. The
mean ulcer duration was 3.71 ± 2.8 weeks, and the mean HbA1c was 7.91 ± 1.9%. A majority (72.3%) of the
patients were classified as having long-standing diabetes. The most isolated organisms were Pseudomonas spp.
40 (28.4%), Staphylococcus aureus 38 (27%), Escherichia coli 30 (21.35%), Klebsiella spp. 15 (12.8%), and mixed
growth 8 (10.6%). Overall, sensitivity to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid was observed in 63.8% of the isolates.
Conclusion: Amoxicillin-clavulanic acid demonstrated moderate sensitivity against the microbial isolates from
DFUs in our cohort. These findings may assist clinicians in selecting appropriate empirical antibiotic therapy for
DFU management. Further studies are warranted to monitor changing microbial patterns and to assess the
clinical outcomes associated with antibiotic therapy.

How to cite this: Khan I, Alam I, Khan Z, Wazir ZM, Khalil A, Ullah I. Sensitivity of Amoxicillin-Clavulanic Acid in Diabetic Foot Ulcers: A Cross-Sectional Study from Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar. Life and Science. 2025; 6(3): 405-410. doi: http://doi.org/10.37185/LnS.1.1.923