Bacterial bioburden of wounds: influence of debridement and negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT)

Comparison and evaluation of negative pressure wound therapy versus standard wound care in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers

BACKGROUND

To explore the efficacy, safety, and cost implications of NPWT versus standard wound care (SWC) for Diabetic Foot Ulcers (DFUs).

METHODS

91 patients with DFUs were included in this retrospective study from May 2017 and February 2024. All patients were divided into NPWT (n = 44) and SWC (n = 47) groups based on the surgery methods. Arterial disease severity was assessed via ankle-brachial index (ABI) and Doppler ultrasound, with subgroups categorized as severe ischemia (ABI < 0.4), moderate ischemia (ABI 0.4-0.7), and normal/mild ischemia (ABI > 0.7). Baseline characteristics, wound parameters, healing progression, adverse events, costs, and subgroup outcomes by arterial disease status were compared between two groups.

RESULTS

At the 4-week assessment, the NPWT group exhibited significantly higher mean percentage reduction in wound area (35.01% vs. 32.53%, P = 0.033) and greater reduction in wound depth (2.74 mm vs. 2.14 mm, P = 0.032) compared to the SWC group. A notably higher proportion of NPWT patients achieved complete wound closure (52.27% vs. 27.66%, P = 0.029), resolution of infection (88.64% vs. 68.09%, P = 0.035), and neuropathy improvement (59.09% vs. 34.04%, P = 0.029). NPWT also showed lower wound infection rates (9.09% vs. 29.79%, P = 0.027) but higher skin irritation (31.82% vs. 10.64%, P = 0.026). Subgroup analysis revealed NPWT's superiority in both PAD-positive (48.0% vs. 20.0%, RR = 2.40, 95% CI: 1.12-5.15, P = 0.042) and PAD-negative subgroups (55.2% vs. 30.4%, RR = 1.82, 95% CI: 1.05-3.15, P = 0.031). Even in severe ischemia (ABI < 0.4), NPWT achieved higher closure rates (36.4% vs. 12.5%, P = 0.038). While total treatment costs were comparable (P = 0.084), NPWT reduced hospitalization days (16.05 vs. 21.38 days, P = 0.028) and drug costs (5229.33 RMB vs. 5915.5 RMB, P = 0.030).

CONCLUSION

NPWT is more superior in safety, cost-efficiency, and long-term wound management compared to SWC.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Not applicable.

Advancing Phage Therapy: A Comprehensive Review of the Safety, Efficacy, and Future Prospects for the Targeted Treatment of Bacterial Infections

BACKGROUND

Phage therapy, a treatment utilizing bacteriophages to combat bacterial infections, is gaining attention as a promising alternative to antibiotics, particularly for managing antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This study aims to provide a comprehensive review of phage therapy by examining its safety, efficacy, influencing factors, future prospects, and regulatory considerations. The study also seeks to identify strategies for optimizing its application and to propose a systematic framework for its clinical implementation.

METHODS

A comprehensive analysis of preclinical studies, clinical trials, and regulatory frameworks was undertaken to evaluate the therapeutic potential of phage therapy. This included an in-depth assessment of key factors influencing clinical outcomes, such as infection site, phage-host specificity, bacterial burden, and immune response. Additionally, innovative strategies-such as combination therapies, bioengineered phages, and phage cocktails-were explored to enhance efficacy. Critical considerations related to dosing, including inoculum size, multiplicity of infection, therapeutic windows, and personalized medicine approaches, were also examined to optimize treatment outcomes.

RESULTS

Phage therapy has demonstrated a favorable safety profile in both preclinical and clinical settings, with minimal adverse effects. Its ability to specifically target harmful bacteria while preserving beneficial microbiota underpins its efficacy in treating a range of infections. However, variable outcomes in some studies highlight the importance of addressing critical factors that influence therapeutic success. Innovative approaches, including combination therapies, bioengineered phages, expanded access to diverse phage banks, phage cocktails, and personalized medicine, hold significant promise for improving efficacy. Optimizing dosing strategies remains a key area for enhancement, with critical considerations including inoculum size, multiplicity of infection, phage kinetics, resistance potential, therapeutic windows, dosing frequency, and patient-specific factors. To support the clinical application of phage therapy, a streamlined four-step guideline has been developed, providing a systematic framework for effective treatment planning and implementation.

CONCLUSION

Phage therapy offers a highly adaptable, targeted, and cost-effective approach to addressing antibiotic-resistant infections. While several critical factors must be thoroughly evaluated to optimize treatment efficacy, there remains significant potential for improvement through innovative strategies and refined methodologies. Although phage therapy has yet to achieve widespread approval in the U.S. and Europe, its accessibility through Expanded Access programs and FDA authorizations for food pathogen control underscores its promise. Established practices in countries such as Poland and Georgia further demonstrate its clinical feasibility. To enable broader adoption, regulatory harmonization and advancements in production, delivery, and quality control will be essential. Notably, the affordability and scalability of phage therapy position it as an especially valuable solution for developing regions grappling with escalating rates of antibiotic resistance.

Osteomyelitis in Late-Stage Pressure Sore Patients: A Retrospective Analysis

BACKGROUND

Late-stage pressure sore (PS) patients are particularly susceptible to osteomyelitis (OM), as bony prominences commonly constitute the focal point of the ulcer. There are lack of data regarding the associated factors and the clinical relevance of this diagnosis in the context of PS treatment.

METHODS

This retrospective analysis investigated the clinical characteristics, blood markers indicative of infection in PS patients, and development of histologically evident OM. A total of 125 patient were included from 2014 to 2019. The patient records were especially scanned for histological diagnosis of OM.

RESULTS

OM was detected in 39% (37/96) of the samples taken during the index procedure. OM prevalence increased to 56% (43/77) at the second and 70% (41/59) at the third debridement. Therefore, the diagnosis of OM was acquired during treatment in 35 cases. Patients diagnosed with initial OM presented significantly higher blood markers, indicative of infection upon admission. Only patients with consistent OM (three positive biopsies) showed higher flap revision rates.

CONCLUSION

This study found no compelling evidence linking OM to worse clinical outcomes in PS patients. In the absence of elevated inflammatory markers, reducing bone biopsy frequency and adopting a less aggressive bone debridement approach may help prevent OM in PS patients.

Animal tissue-derived biomaterials for promoting wound healing

The skin serves as the primary barrier between the human body and external environment, and is therefore susceptible to damage from various factors. In response to this challenge, animal tissue-derived biomaterials have emerged as promising candidates for wound healing due to their abundant sources, low side-effect profiles, exceptional bioactivity, biocompatibility, and unique extracellular matrix (ECM) mimicry. The evolution of modern engineering technology and therapies has allowed these animal tissue-derived biomaterials to be transformed into various forms and modified to possess the necessary properties for wound repair. This review provides an overview of the wound healing process and the factors that influence it. We then describe the extraction methods, important properties, and recent practical applications of various animal tissue-derived biomaterials. Our focus then shifts to the critical properties of these biomaterials in skin wound healing and their latest research developments. Finally, we critically examine the limitations and future prospects of biomaterials generated from animal tissues in this field.

Hyaluronic Acid/Collagenase Ointment in the Treatment of Chronic Hard-to-Heal Wounds: An Observational and Retrospective Study

Background: Wound bed preparation is an important concept in clinical practice and is related to adequate debridement. The use of proteolytic enzymes is an established method of enzymatic wound debridement, especially in hard-to-heal ulcers that are unresponsive to normal healing procedures and progress. The TIME framework (tissue, inflammation/infection, moisture balance, and edge of wound) offers an appropriate strategy to eliminate resistance to healing, as well as maximizing the healing process. Maintenance debridement, as opposed to sporadic debridement, may be proposed in preserving an adequate wound bed towards complete recovery. Collagenase has been effective in debridement due to its ability to degrade collagen and elastin. In this clinical context, collagenase taken from Vibrio alginolitycus is the most favorably expressed enzymatic debriding agent. Methods: This retrospective observational study evaluates the efficacy of an ointment based on hyaluronic acid and collagenase (Bionect Start^®), considering a reduced healing time and greater healing quality. We included 70 patients with chronic wounds of different etiologies, including diabetes mellitus (20), post-traumatic ulcers (35), chronic burns of degrees I and II (10), and pressure ulcers (5). We analyzed wound characteristics using the wound bed score (WBS) concept, healing time, as well as operator and patient satisfaction. Results: Frequency of debridement efficacy in terms of wound bed cleansing varied from 26% after 2 weeks to 93% after 4 weeks. We observed complete healing in 62 patients within an eight-week period. The overall operator and patient satisfaction after 8 weeks were 100% and 90%, respectively. Moreover, all patients reported less pain. Conclusions: A combined action of hyaluronic acid and collagenase ointment demonstrated a reduction in healing time while improving healing quality, with a decrease in pain.