Objective: The wound bed is an ideal surface for bacterial growth, and the deleterious effects of microbial infection on wound healing are recognized. Bacteria adhere to almost all types of surfaces, and form complex structures called biofilms. The aim of our study was to determine the bacteria and biofilm formation rates in diabetic foot.

Material and Method: Routine culture samples obtained from infected diabetic ulcers were evaluated in Infection Diseases and Clinical Microbiology laboratory between 2013-2015. We collected specimens for culture by debridement of the soft tissue and / or bone biopsy and effective bacterial agents were identified by using standard culture, and identification methods. The production of biofilm was studied by quantitative microdilution plate method.

Results: We isolated a total of 81 causative bacteria from soft and/or bone tissue samples in 55 patients. The most frequently isolated species was Pseudomonas (n=16; 19.8%). Sixty seven (82.7%) of 81 isolates produced biofilm. We found that biofilm was produced by many types of organisms, but it was particularly more common in Staphylococcus and Pseudomonas species.

Conclusion: We believe that our work is important in that it emphasizes the need to develop therapeutic strategies to eliminate and/or prevent biofilm formation in diabetic foot infection.