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Protocol to Create Chronic Wounds in Diabetic Mice

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Published on: September 25, 2019

Biofilms in chronic wounds.

Garth A James¹, Ellen Swogger, Randall Wolcott

¹Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University-Bozeman, Bozeman, Montana 59717, USA. gjames@erc.montana.edu

Wound Repair and Regeneration : Official Publication of the Wound Healing Society [And] the European Tissue Repair Society

|December 19, 2007

Summary

Chronic wounds often harbor bacterial biofilms, which are persistent microbial communities. This study found significantly higher biofilm prevalence in chronic wounds compared to acute wounds, suggesting biofilms contribute to wound chronicity.

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Swine Model of Biofilm Infection and Invisible Wounds

Swine Model of Biofilm Infection and Invisible Wounds

Published on: June 16, 2023

Area of Science:

Microbiology
Wound Healing
Biotechnology

Background:

Chronic wounds, such as diabetic foot ulcers, pressure ulcers, and venous leg ulcers, represent a significant global health challenge.
Bacteria in chronic wounds are increasingly suspected to form persistent biofilm communities.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the presence and characteristics of bacterial biofilms in chronic and acute wounds.
To identify microorganisms, including those not detectable by standard culture methods, within these wounds.

Main Methods:

Specimens from 77 chronic and 16 acute wounds were analyzed.
Microscopy (light and scanning electron) was used to detect biofilms in 50 chronic and 16 acute wound specimens.
Molecular techniques (DGGE and sequencing) were employed on 27 chronic wound specimens to characterize microbial communities.

Main Results:

Biofilms were detected in 60% (30/50) of chronic wounds versus only 6% (1/16) of acute wounds, a statistically significant difference (p<0.001).
Molecular analysis revealed diverse polymicrobial communities in chronic wounds, including anaerobic bacteria missed by culture.

Conclusions:

The high prevalence of bacterial biofilms in chronic wounds supports their role in the persistence of these challenging conditions.
Biofilm detection and characterization using advanced molecular methods offer deeper insights into chronic wound microbiology.