Plantar ulcers with osteomyelitis underneath. A bacteriological study.

39 consecutive cases of plantar ulcers with underlying chronic osteomyelitis admitted in the Sacred Heart Hospital during 1975/1976 were studied for the infecting organisms and their sensitivity to easily available antibiotics. Single organism was iasolated in only 10 cases, the infection in the rest being a mixed one. The commonest organisms were Staphylococcus, Streptococcus and Proteus mirabilis. In a few cases Pseudomonas and E-Coli were also isolated. Chloramphenicol was the most effective antibiotic in general and Streptomycin the least. 70% of the staphylococcus strains isolated were found to be resistant to Penicillin. Empirical use of antibiotics especially Penicillin and Streptomycin is hence deprecated.