Jagadeesh AT, et al. - Researchers planned this study to ascertain the differences between the cutaneous microbial flora of patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and those without, and therefore evaluated for cutaneous microbiome dysbiosis in diabetes. Among patients with T2DM, they supported the existence of cutaneous microbiome dysbiosis. Literature suggested that in T2DM, microbiome dybiosis could stem from the same activated innate immune response that was thought to be central to the development of T2DM. This dysbiosis could increase the risk of developing skin infections.

• A case-control study design was employed with 41 participants in each group.
• For this study, the skin over the toe-web space was swabbed and cultured aerobically.
• The researchers analyzed data for differences in microbial prevalences and growths between the two groups.
• They examined predictors for heavy colonization by microbes using logistic regression.

• Among patients with T2DM, the researchers found significantly higher prevalences of Staphylococcus epidermidis (77.5% vs. 53.7%, p = .02).
• Additionally, these bacteria demonstrated a significantly greater degree of skin colonization i.e. CFUs / cm² among these patients when prevalent, p = .03.
• Among patients with T2DM, highly pathogenic bacteria such as S. aureus were more prevalent.
• The regression model ascertained a significant relationship between T2DM status and heavy colonization by S. epidermidis (OR- 5.40, p = .02).
• Moreover, agricultural workers were significantly more expected to have heavy colonization by S. epidermidis (OR - 3.75, p = .02).
• No significant association was noted between other predictor variables with heavy colonization by any of the isolated microbes.