Use of a non-contact radiant heat bandage on ischemic dermal infections in an ovine model.
BACKGROUND
Chronic non-healing foot wounds are common complication in the diabetic population. Local radiant heat bandage has recently been proposed as an effective adjuvant. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of such bandage in controlling infection in an ovine ischemic wound model.


METHODS
Bilateral flank ischemic wounds were created in a total of 42 sheep. 14 sheep were challenged with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA), 13 with Escherichia Coli (EC), and 15 with Methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The left flank was designated the treatment side and the right the control side. The radiant heat bandage was applied for a total of 10 days. The animal were then euthanized and the wounds harvested for bacterial quantification.


RESULTS
39 sheep completed the study. Mean bacterial counts were has follows: for MRSA, control 7.6 x 10(5) CFU/gm vs. heated 2.0 x 10(5) CFU/gm (p=0.16); for EC, control 1.1 x 10(6) CFU/gm vs. heated 2.7 x 10(5) CFU/gm (p=0.006); PA, control 1.7 x 10(6) CFU/gm vs. heated 3.9 x 10(9) CFU/gm (p=0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Non-contact radiant bandages controls bacterial growth in ischemic wounds infected with MRSA or EC and may potentially improve wound healing. Wounds infected with PA should no be submitted to such treatment.
d'Audiffret
Alexandre
A
Department of Surgery, Division of Vascular Surgery, Veterans Affairs Medical Center and University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55417, USA.
Roethle
Scott
S
Tretinyak
Alexander
A
Santilli
Steven
S
D000818:Animals; D001458:Bandages; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000628:therapy; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000628:therapy; D012756:Sheep; D017192:Skin Diseases, Bacterial / Q000628:therapy; D013207:Staphylococcal Skin Infections / Q000628:therapy; D014945:Wound Healing; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*