Microbial flora and its significance in pathology of sickle cell disease leg ulcers.

The microflora and its significance was investigated in 82 leg ulcers in patients with sickle cell disease. Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and group A streptococci were the most common isolates. The majority of ulcers which yielded these organisms showed signs of local inflammation, regional lymphadenopathy and healed slowly as compared with ulcers which did not show these organisms. Repeat culture swabs demonstrated persistence of these organisms. A topical spray containing neomycin, polymyxin B and bacitracin helped to eradicate these organisms and hastened the healing process of ulcers. Coliforms and anaerobes were also isolated but were transient in nature and of no significance in the pathology of such ulcers.