EFFECTIVENESS OF ACETIC ACID DRESSINGS IN DIABETIC ULCERS INFECTED WITH PSEUDOMONAS AERUGINOSA

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic condition with high blood sugar that can cause complications like diabetic foot ulcers. These ulcers result from neuropathy, poor circulation, and infection, with healing delayed by poor glycemic control and inadequate blood supply. Untreated, they may progress to amputation. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a resistant gram-negative bacterium, is frequently found in these ulcers. Its biolm formation and growth in alkaline environments make treatment difcult. Acetic acid, by lowering wound pH, inhibits Pseudomonas growth. This study evaluates 3% acetic acid dressings compared with saline dressings in infected diabetic ulcers. Materials And Methods: Thirty diabetic patients with culture-conrmed Pseudomonas-infected foot ulcers were selected from the General Surgery department. Patients were randomly divided into two groups of 15 each. One group received daily 3% acetic acid dressings; the other received saline dressings. Effectiveness was evaluated by comparing wound cultures on day 10. Results: Acetic acid dressings showed greater reduction of Pseudomonas growth compared to saline. The small sample size remains a limitation. Conclusion: 3% acetic acid dressings are more effective than saline in controlling Pseudomonas infections in diabetic foot ulcers. By lowering pH and disrupting biolms, they provide a cost-effective treatment, especially valuable in resource-limited settings.