Abstract:
Background: S. aureus remains the predominant pathogen in diabetic foot ulcers which has been associated with increased mortality and hospital costs. However, economic burden of S. aureus colonization remains unknown since no study has been conducted on the subject matter. Aim: To investigate the economic burden of S.aureus colonization among DPFUs: case of Vihiga County, Kenya. Method: Pus samples from DPFUs were collected S. aureus screening.
Results: 52.4% of DPFUs and colonized with S. aureus were poor earning less than Sh. 5,000 a month. Colonization with S. aureus had a negative economic effect on income earned by the diabetic patient with foot ulcer on a monthly basis. Recommendations: Enroll the diabetic patients with foot ulcers into transfer payments program and sensitize them on wound management practices to reduce their poverty profile and wound colonizations.
