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Bacterial, fungal infections more common in type 2 diabetes
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Adults with type 2 diabetes are more likely to acquire common infections vs. those without diabetes, with conditions caused by bacteria, fungi and yeasts associated with poorer glycemic control, according to an observational study.
Julia L. Hine, of the section of clinical medicine and aging at the University of Surrey in Guildford, United Kingdom, and colleagues analyzed infection rates during 2014 among adults with type 2 diabetes (n = 34,278) and without (n = 613,052), using the Royal College of General Practitioners Research and Surveillance Centre database. Researchers used logistic regression analysis to investigate the impact of type 2 diabetes on presentation with infection, and the effect of glycemic control on presentation with upper respiratory tract infections, bronchitis, influenza-like illness, pneumonia, intestinal infectious diseases, herpes simplex, skin and soft tissue infections, urinary tract infections, and genital and perineal infections.
Researchers stratified patients with type 2 diabetes by HbA1c (good, < 7%; moderate, 7%-8.5%; and poor, > 8.5%), and adjusted for sociodemographic factors and patient comorbidities.
With the exception of herpes simplex virus, the age-standardized rate for all infections was higher among patients with type 2 diabetes; genital and perineal infections were the most strongly associated with type 2 diabetes.
Researchers also found that adjusted ORs increased for incidence of bronchitis, pneumonia, skin and soft tissue infections, and genital and perineal infections with worsening glycemic control. There was no observed association between glycemic control and upper respiratory tract infections, influenza-like illnesses, intestinal infectious diseases or herpes simplex virus.
The researchers noted that further research is needed to establish the mechanism through which poorer glycemic control results in increased incidence of infections.
“The possibility that infection, in turn, results in poorer glycemic control cannot be excluded from the observed association,” the researchers wrote. “Most importantly, we needed to know if tighter glycemic control results in reduced infection incidence.” – by Regina Schaffer
Disclosure: Hine reports no relevant financial disclosures. Please see the full study for the other authors’ relevant financial disclosures.
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