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Updated: Mar 13, 2026
Author Spotlight: Studying Host-Microbe Interactions in Wound Biofilm Formation
Published on: June 16, 2023
Local Application of Probiotic Bacteria Prophylaxes against Sepsis and Death Resulting from Burn Wound Infection
Anne Argenta1, Latha Satish1,2, Phillip Gallo1
1Department of Plastic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America.
Objective:
To determine if local prophylactic application of probiotic bacteria to burn wounds will prevent death in a mouse model of burn wound sepsis.
Background:
Infection remains the most common complication after burn injury and can result in sepsis and death, despite the use of topical and systemic antibiotics. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a frequently implicated pathogen. Local application of probiotics directly to burn wounds is an attractive novel intervention that avoids the pitfalls of standard antibiotic therapies.
Methods:
A burn-sepsis model was established using a sub-eschar injection of bioluminescent P. aeruginosa; infection was tracked using a charge-coupled camera. Full-thickness burn injuries were placed on the dorsums of adult mice; the injured sites were then treated with vehicle (burn wound control), probiotics (Lactobacillus plantarum only), pathogenic bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa only), or probiotics plus pathogen (Lactobacillus plus Pseudomonas). Animals were monitored until death/moribundity or for one week, then sacrificed. Harvested tissues were subjected to imaging and molecular assays.
Results:
Control and probiotic-only animals showed no mortality (100% survival) at one week. Pseudomonas-only animals showed > 90% mortality within 40 hours of infection. In contrast, animals treated with probiotics plus Pseudomonas showed less than 10% mortality. Use of bioluminescent Pseudomonas bacteria demonstrated that probiotic therapy inhibited septicemic accumulation of the pathogen in remote organs. In addition, probiotic therapy successfully suppressed the infection-dependent induction of TNF-α and interleukins 6 and 10 in the liver.
Conclusions:
Local probiotic therapy shows great potential as a valuable adjunct in the management of complicated burn injury.
Insights
Local probiotic therapy with Lactobacillus plantarum significantly reduced mortality in a mouse model of burn wound sepsis caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Probiotics prevented pathogen spread to organs and suppressed inflammatory responses, showing promise for burn injury management.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Immunology
- Surgical Infections
Background:
- Burn wound infections are a major cause of mortality despite antibiotic use.
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a common pathogen in burn wound sepsis.
- Probiotic therapy offers a novel approach to combat burn wound infections, avoiding antibiotic resistance issues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of local probiotic application in preventing death from burn wound sepsis.
- To assess the impact of Lactobacillus plantarum on Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in a murine burn model.
Main Methods:
- A mouse model of burn wound sepsis was created using bioluminescent Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
- Burned mice were treated with either vehicle, Lactobacillus plantarum, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, or a combination of probiotics and pathogen.
- Infection progression, mortality, and inflammatory markers (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10) were monitored.
Main Results:
- Probiotic treatment resulted in 100% survival in control and probiotic-only groups.
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection alone led to over 90% mortality within 40 hours.
- Combined probiotic and pathogen treatment showed less than 10% mortality, with inhibited pathogen dissemination and reduced liver inflammation.
Conclusions:
- Local probiotic therapy demonstrates significant potential as an adjunctive treatment for complicated burn injuries.
- Lactobacillus plantarum effectively mitigates mortality and systemic spread of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a burn sepsis model.
- Probiotics may offer a safe and effective alternative or supplement to traditional antibiotic treatments for burn wound infections.
