Point-of-care fluorescence imaging reveals extent of bacterial load in diabetic foot ulcers.

ABSTRACT: Elevated levels of bacteria, including biofilm, increase the risk of chronic wound infection and inhibit healing. Addressing asymptomatic high bacterial loads is challenged by a lack of clinical terminology and diagnostic tools. This post-hoc multicenter clinical trial analysis of 138 diabetic foot ulcers investigates fluorescence (FL)-imaging role in detecting biofilm-encased and planktonic bacteria in wounds at high loads. The sensitivity and specificity of clinical assessment and FL-imaging were compared across bacterial loads of concern (10⁴ -10⁹  CFU/g). Quantitative tissue culture confirmed the total loads. Bacterial presence was confirmed in 131/138 ulcers. Of these, 93.9% had loads >10⁴  CFU/g. In those wounds, symptoms of infection were largely abs

SUBMITTER: Armstrong DG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9885466 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature