title: Cutaneous wound biofilm and the potential for electrical stimulation in management of the microbiome.
abstract: Infection contributes significantly to delayed cutaneous wound healing, which impacts patient care. External application of electrical stimulation (ES) has beneficial effects on wound repair and regeneration. The majority of studies to date have explored ES in relation to planktonic microorganisms, yet evidence indicates that bacteria in chronic wounds reside as antibiotic-resistant polymicrobial biofilms, which contribute to impairing wound healing. Culture-independent sequencing techniques have revolutionized our understanding of the skin microbiome and allowed a more accurate determination of microbial taxa and their relative abundance in wounds allowing a greater understanding of the host-microbial interface. Future studies combining the fields of ES, biofilm and microbiome research are necessary to fully elucidate the use of ES in the management of wound infection.
authors.affiliation: Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Research, Centre for Dermatological Research, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.|University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust, Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester, UK.|Bioengineering Group, School of Materials, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ashrafi
authors.affiliation: University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust, Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baguneid
authors.affiliation: Bioengineering Group, School of Materials, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Alonso-Rasgado
authors.affiliation: University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust, Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester, UK.|Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Institute of Inflammation & Repair, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Riina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rautemaa-Richardson
authors.affiliation: Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Research, Centre for Dermatological Research, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.|University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust, Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester, UK.|Bioengineering Group, School of Materials, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Ardeshir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bayat
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000528:radiation effects*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D006801:Humans; D064307:Microbiota / Q000528:radiation effects*; D017192:Skin Diseases, Bacterial / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*
keywords: biofilm; cutaneous wounds; electrical stimulation; microbiome; wound healing