(CS-002) Retrospective Case Series Evaluating the Effects of a Novel Thermoreversible Antimicrobial Gel on Bacterial Loads of Diabetic Foot Ulcerations as Measured by Bacterial Fluorescence Imaging

Introduction: The prescence of bioburden and biofilm is commonly associated with non-healing chronic wounds. High bacterial loads may stall healing and cause increased time to heal for chronic ulcerations. With the aid of real time bacterial fluorescence imaging, we have evaluated the effects of a novel thermoreversible antimicrobial gel on bacterial loads in difficult-to-heal diabetic foot ulcerations.

Methods: Patients with chronic diabetic foot ulcerations were treated with standard of care plus application of a novel antimicrobial gel for up to four weeks. The Moleculight bacterial fluorescence imaging device was used to evaluate wound bacterial loads prior to the beginning of treatment and at each gel application.

Results: In each case, the bacterial load observed by the Moleculight device decreased during the treatment period and fell below the limits of detection at or before the fourth week

Discussion: Prescence of high bioburden levels in wounds has been proven to delay wound healing and have a significant negative effect on wound healing rates. High bacterial loads can now be detected at the patient bedside using the Moleculight bacterial fluorescence imaging device. In this series of patients, the addition of a novel antimicrobial gel to standard of care led to observable reductions in the level of bacterial loads in chronic diabetic wounds.