title: Use of bacteria- and fungus-binding mesh in negative pressure wound therapy provides significant granulation tissue without tissue ingrowth.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Bacteria- and fungus-binding mesh traps and inactivates bacteria and fungus, which makes it interesting, alternative, and wound filler for negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT). The aim of this study was to compare pathogen-binding mesh, black foam, and gauze in NPWT with regard to granulation tissue formation and ingrowth of wound bed tissue in the wound filler.
  
  
  METHODS
  Wounds on the backs of 8 pigs underwent 72 hours of NPWT using pathogen-binding mesh, foam, or gauze. Microdeformation of the wound bed and granulation tissue formation and the force required to remove the wound fillers was studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pathogen-binding mesh produced more granulation tissue, leukocyte infiltration, and tissue disorganization in the wound bed than gauze, but less than foam. All 3 wound fillers caused microdeformation of the wound bed surface. Little force was required to remove pathogen-binding mesh and gauze, while considerable force was needed to remove foam. This is the result of tissue growth into the foam, but not into pathogen-binding mesh or gauze, as shown by examination of biopsy sections from the wound bed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows that using pathogen-binding mesh as a wound filler for NPWT leads to a significant amount of granulation tissue in the wound bed, more than that with gauze, but eliminates the problems of ingrowth of the wound bed into the wound filler. Pathogen-binding mesh is thus an interesting wound filler in NPWT.
authors: Departments of Ophthalmology, Lund University and Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.
authors: Malin
authors: M
authors: Malmsjö
authors: Cardiothoracic Surgery, Lund University and Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.
authors: Sandra
authors: S
authors: Lindstedt
authors: Cardiothoracic Surgery, Lund University and Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.
authors: Richard
authors: R
authors: Ingemansson
authors: Departments of Ophthalmology, Lund University and Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.
authors: Lotta
authors: L
authors: Gustafsson
keywords: blood flow; experimental surgery; negative pressure wound therapy; wound contraction; wound dressing; wound healing