title: Bacteriology of chronic leg ulcers.
abstract: The quantitative bacteriology of 13 chronic leg ulcers was sequentially assessed by both swab and biopsy culture techniques, and the effect of either a 10% benzoyl peroxide lotion or placebo lotion was evaluated. There was good correlation between the swab and biopsy culture techniques in 12 of the 17 instances where simultaneous swabs and biopsies were done. Though the benzoyl peroxide did not favorably affect the bacterial flora, ulcer healing did appear to correlate with quantitative bacterial counts. THREE of five ulcers containing fewer than 10(5) organisms per gram of tissue or per centimeter of ulcer surface area healed, while none of eight ulcers containing more than 10(5) organisms healed. Quantitative bacteriological measurements can serve as useful tools in evaluating healing of leg ulcers.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D001585:Benzoyl Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001706:Biopsy; D002908:Chronic Disease; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007871:Leg Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010919:Placebos; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos; D001585:Benzoyl Peroxide