ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Acta Vulnologica 2011 June;9(2):65-76

Copyright © 2011 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English, Italian

Effect of topical negative-pressure wound therapy on bacterial concentration in pressure lesions

Scognamiglio R. ¹, Petrella F. ², Ciliberti G. ¹, De Lara F. ³, De Rosa P. ¹, De Martino G. ⁴, Di Martino V. ¹, Nebbioso G. ⁷, Serra G. ⁶, Tafuro F. ⁵, Vener M. R. ¹, Ciliberti M. ³

¹ Unit of Microbiology, San Leonardo Hospital, Naples, Italy 2 Center of Tissue Repair, Local Health Unit 1 Center DS34, Naples, Italy 3 Center of Tissue Repair, Local Health Unit Napoli 3sud, Naples, Italy 4 Elderly Assistance, Local Health Unit 3sud DS54, Naples, Italy 5 Center of Tissue Repair, Local Health Unit 3sud DS549, Naples, Italy 6 Center of Tissue Repair, Local Health Unit 3sud DS 59, Naples, Italy 7 General Surgery, Local Health Unit Napoli 1centro ds 33, Naples, Italy

AIM: There are few published clinical studies on the effects of topical negative pressure therapy (NWPT) on the bacterial concentration in the wound bed. Furthermore, these studies do not show consistent results. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of NPWT on bacterial load during the treatment of pressure sores.
METHODS: The study population was 30 randomly enrolled patients receiving home care for the treatment of pressure sores treated with NWPT. Samples were collected by swabbing to determine the bacterial load. In a small number of patients, the bacterial load was also determined from biopsy samples. Samples were taken at T0 (before placing the medication), T1 (the first dressing change), and at T7 (after one week of therapy). Grids adjacent to values at T0 were created and the values obtained at T1 and T7 were progressively entered. This procedure allowed the evaluation of the effect of NPWT on bacterial load from three different levels of concentration. Data from swab cultures were cross-matched with those from biopsy culture.
RESULTS: The effect of NPWT on bacterial load could be defined consistently. In the group with low concentrations, despite some fluctuations in values, the bacterial load did not increase, while a decrease in concentration was observed in the group with high bacterial load.
CONCLUSIONS: The bacterial load in the wound bed does not increase during NPWT; in wounds with high initial concentration, the bacterial load decreased significantly.