Bacterial profile and antimicrobial resistance patterns of infected diabetic foot ulcers in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta‑analysis.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are often polymicrobial infections, necessitating antibiotic therapy. However, the high prevalence of antibiotic misuse and the growing issue of antibiotic resistance in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) exacerbate the challenges in managing these ulcers, contributing to the risk of lower-limb amputations. OBJECTIVES: This systematic review reported the bacterial profile and antibiotic resistance patterns associated with DFUs in LMICs. DESIGN: A systematic review and meta-analysis. DATA SOURCES AND METHODS: A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, SCOPUS, and Web of Science to retrieve relevant articles, which were screened according to predefined selection criteria. Publication bias was assessed with a funnel plot and Egger's regression test. A meta-analysis was conducted in RStudio version 4.5.2, using the random-effects model. Meta-regression and sensitivity analysis were conducted to assess the sources of heterogeneity and robustness of the included studies, respectively. RESULTS: The most frequently isolated bacteria were Staphylococcus aureus (22.64%), Escherichia coli (12.37%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (8.49%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (5.19%), P. mirabilis (4.61%), and Coagulase-negative Staphylococci (4.86%). The prevalence of key antibiotic-resistant bacteria was as follows: Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (38.65%), Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing E. coli (50.74%), and ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae (41.54%). S. aureus demonstrated the highest resistance to penicillin (96.87% (93.30; 99.32)), azithromycin (76.42% (64.54; 86.65)), and cefoxitin (68.19% (46.83; 86.67)). E. coli showed the highest resistance to ampicillin (86.60% (77.14; 94.18)) and cotrimoxazole (69.27% (57.35; 80.18)). CONCLUSION: Pathogenic bacteria isolated from DFUs in LMICs exhibit high rates of antibiotic and multidrug resistance. Alternative therapies, such as phage therapy, should be explored as potential treatments for DFUs to mitigate the impact of antibiotic resistance and decrease the rate of diabetes-related amputations. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Open Science Framework (OSF) registry, available at https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/DPX9F.