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Updated: Jun 12, 2026
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Murine Model of Wound Healing
Published on: May 28, 2013
Testing wound dressings using an in vitro wound model
C Lipp1, K Kirker, A Agostinho
1Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana, USA.
Journal of Wound Care
|June 17, 2010
Summary
Antimicrobial wound dressings, particularly those with silver, reduced bacterial load compared to non-antimicrobial options. However, no dressing completely eradicated bacteria, indicating potential for bacterial growth within dressings.
Area of Science:
- Wound care
- Microbiology
- Biomaterials
Background:
- Bacterial bioburden is a critical factor in wound healing.
- The efficacy of various wound dressings in managing bacterial load is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the effects of different non-occlusive, non-adhesive wound dressings on bacterial bioburden.
- To evaluate the impact of antimicrobial agents in wound dressings on bacterial growth.
Main Methods:
- A colony-drip flow reactor (DFR) model was used to grow biofilms of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) or Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
- Tested dressings included silver-containing, polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB)-containing, cotton-based, carboxymethyl cellulose-based, alginate, and cotton gauze dressings.
- Bacterial growth was assessed using plate counts, fluorescent microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy.
Main Results:
- Antimicrobial dressings demonstrated a significant reduction in bacterial load compared to non-antimicrobial dressings.
- The silver-containing dressing was most effective against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, while both antimicrobial dressings reduced methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus counts.
- Complete eradication of bacteria was not achieved by any of the tested dressings.
Conclusions:
- Bacteria can proliferate within wound dressing environments.
- Antimicrobial dressings can effectively limit bacterial growth, but do not eliminate it entirely.
