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Potential role of anaerobic cocci in impaired human wound healing

Ivan B Wall1, Charlotte E Davies, Katja E Hill

  • 1Wound Healing Research Unit, Department of Surgery, University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom.

Wound Repair and Regeneration : Official Publication of the Wound Healing Society [And] the European Tissue Repair Society
|November 28, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Anaerobic bacteria, particularly gram-positive anaerobic cocci, are often overlooked in leg ulcer healing. These microbes can impair wound healing by interfering with inflammation, repair, and remodeling processes.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Dermatology
  • Wound Healing Research

Background:

  • Leg ulcers frequently harbor anaerobic organisms, with over 80% of infected and 70% of non-infected cases showing their presence.
  • The specific role of anaerobic bacteria in impairing skin wound healing is often underestimated in clinical and research settings.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the role of gram-positive anaerobic cocci in impaired wound healing.
  • To discuss the mechanisms by which these bacteria interfere with the key phases of wound healing.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and synthesis of existing evidence on anaerobic organisms in leg ulcers.
  • Analysis of proposed mechanisms of bacterial interference in wound healing phases.

Main Results:

  • Increasing evidence suggests gram-positive anaerobic cocci directly and indirectly impair wound healing in vivo.
  • These microorganisms can disrupt the normal inflammatory, repair, and remodeling processes essential for skin regeneration.

Conclusions:

  • Gram-positive anaerobic cocci are significant contributors to delayed or impaired leg ulcer healing.
  • Understanding these microbial mechanisms is crucial for developing effective therapeutic strategies for chronic wounds.

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