A Novel In Vitro Scrubber Model for Evaluating Wound Cleansing on Biofilms

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Microbiology
• Wound Care Science

Background:

• Chronic wounds globally present a significant patient and healthcare burden.
• High microbial loading and biofilm formation are common in chronic wounds, impeding healing.
• Effective wound cleansing is crucial for removing contaminants and pathogens to promote healing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a standardized in vitro preclinical model for assessing antimicrobial wound cleansing solutions.
• To compare the efficacy of different cleansing agents and mechanical disruption techniques on wound biofilms.
• To provide clinically relevant data for optimizing wound cleansing protocols.

Main Methods:

• A novel in vitro model using wounded porcine explants was developed to standardize pressure and scrubbing forces.
• Microbial biofilms were established on explants before exposure to varying physical parameters and cleansing solutions.
• Confocal laser microscopy with fluorescent viability stains was used to assess biofilm disruption.

Main Results:

• Increased pressure and scrubbing duration significantly enhanced biofilm removal, achieving over a 1-log reduction in microbial levels.
• The model demonstrated a significant difference between saline and an antimicrobial solution (HClO), with >4.5 log reduction.
• Confocal microscopy confirmed biofilm disruption by gauze, supporting the model's findings.

Conclusions:

• The developed model effectively standardizes mechanical forces and cleansing parameters for in vitro wound biofilm assessment.
• This model provides a versatile platform for comparing the efficacy of various wound cleansing agents and techniques.
• The findings support the use of standardized in vitro models to generate clinically relevant evidence for wound care.