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Noncontact, low‐frequency ultrasound as an effective therapy against P seudomonas aeruginosa –infected biofilm wounds
Author(s) -
Seth Akhil K.,
Nguyen Khang T.,
Geringer Matthew R.,
Hong Seok J.,
Leung Kai P.,
Mustoe Thomas A.,
Galiano Robert D.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
wound repair and regeneration
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.847
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1524-475X
pISSN - 1067-1927
DOI - 10.1111/wrr.12000
Subject(s) - biofilm , microbiology and biotechnology , ultrasound , medicine , chemistry , bacteria , biology , radiology , genetics
Bacterial biofilms, a critical chronic wound mediator, remain difficult to treat. Energy‐based devices may potentially improve healing, but with no evidence of efficacy against biofilms. This study evaluates noncontact, low‐frequency ultrasound ( NLFU ) in the treatment of biofilm‐infected wounds. Six‐millimeter dermal punch wounds in rabbit ears were inoculated with 10 7 colony‐forming units of P seudomonas aeruginosa or left as sterile controls. A biofilm was established in vivo using our published model. NLFU treatment was carried out every other day or every day, with contralateral ear wounds acting as internal, untreated controls. Wounds were harvested for several quantitative endpoints and scanning electron microscopy to evaluate the biofilm structure. The P . aeruginosa biofilm consistently impaired wound epithelialization and granulation. NLFU , both every other day and every day, improved healing and reduced bacterial counts relative to untreated controls ( p < 0.05). Scanning electron microscopy confirmed a qualitative decrease in bacteria after both treatments. NLFU also reduced inflammatory cytokine expression ( p < 0.05). Our study suggests that NLFU is an effective therapy against P . aeruginosa wound biofilm. This represents the first in vivo evidence of energy‐based modalities' impact on wound biofilm, setting the foundation for future mechanistic studies. Continued wound care technology research is essential to improving our understanding, and treatment, of biofilm‐infected chronic wounds.