Bedsore Healing Using Selenium-Enriched Lactobacillus brevis LSe: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Clinical...

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Clinical Medicine
• Nutritional Science

Background:

• Bedsores (pressure ulcers) present a significant healthcare challenge.
• Probiotics, particularly those enriched with selenium (Se), show promise in wound healing and inflammation reduction.
• The therapeutic potential of a specific Se-enriched probiotic derived from a traditional dairy product for bedsore management was investigated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of a Se-enriched probiotic in accelerating the healing of stages I and II bedsores.
• To compare the wound healing criteria in patients receiving the Se-enriched probiotic versus a control group.
• To assess the impact of Se-enriched probiotics on inflammatory markers in bedsore patients.

Main Methods:

• A randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial was conducted.
• Twenty ICU patients with stages I and II bedsores were administered daily doses of the Se-enriched probiotic for 14 days.
• Wound healing criteria, bedsore size, bedsore grade, and laboratory inflammatory parameters were compared between the treatment and control groups.

Main Results:

• The Se-enriched probiotic group demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in bedsore healing period (average 2.4 days, P=0.039).
• Improvements in bedsore size and grade were observed in the treatment group, though not statistically significant.
• Key laboratory parameters associated with inflammation showed improvement in patients receiving the Se-supplemented probiotic.

Conclusions:

• The Se-enriched probiotic significantly decreased the healing time for bedsores.
• The study suggests that Se-enriched probiotics can be considered as an effective auxiliary agent in the management of pressure ulcers.
• Further research with larger patient cohorts and extended follow-up is warranted to fully elucidate the benefits.