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Innovative Imaging Technology Enhances Wound Care for Diabetic Patients
Chronic wounds affect over 6.5 million individuals in the United States, with these wounds failing to heal after several months. A common characteristic of such wounds is the presence of bacteria, which, when left unaddressed, can lead to severe infections and complications, including the potential for amputation in the case of limbs.
Diabetic foot ulcers, a prevalent type of chronic wound, impact approximately one-third of diabetes sufferers. According to the American Diabetes Association, about 20% of patients with diabetic foot ulcers may face lower-extremity amputation.
During the debridement process, physicians aim to clean these wounds by removing as many bacteria as possible. However, a significant challenge exists: not all bacteria are visible to the naked eye, potentially leading to overlooked pathogens during treatment.
Recent research from Keck Medicine of USC, published in Advances in Wound Care, suggests an advanced technique for detecting bacteria during wound debridement. This method, known as autofluorescence (AF) imaging, employs a handheld device that utilizes violet light to illuminate bacteria that are normally invisible. The various colors emitted by different bacterial types allow healthcare providers to ascertain the quantity and types of bacteria present in the wound instantly.
“This technology holds promise for enhancing the precision with which surgeons identify and remove bacteria from wounds, thus improving patient outcomes, particularly for those with diabetic foot ulcers,” stated David G. Armstrong, DPM, PhD, a specialized podiatric surgeon and limb preservation expert with Keck Medicine, and the study’s senior author. “Early detection and removal of bacteria are crucial for preventing unnecessary amputations.”
The study entails a review of 25 different research studies examining the role of AF imaging in treating diabetic patients with foot ulcers. It concluded that AF imaging can successfully identify bacterial presence in about 90% of cases that conventional assessments fail to recognize.
Typically, healthcare providers debride wounds and subsequently send the collected tissue samples to a laboratory for analysis, to identify specific bacterial types and customize treatment protocols, such as prescribing antibiotics or recommending specialized wound dressings. This standard procedure can delay intervention and permit infections to develop, as noted by Armstrong.
In contrast, the AF imaging technique enables physicians to make informed decisions during the debridement process itself, eliminating the wait for lab results to begin treatment.
By facilitating early detection of bacteria, the AF imaging method may also reduce the reliance on antibiotics, which are often administered for prolonged periods in wound care, thereby mitigating the risk of antibiotic resistance.
“This real-time clinical intervention may lead to quicker and more effective wound management,” Armstrong emphasized.
Currently, physicians at Keck Medicine are employing AF imaging technology to effectively treat patients suffering from chronic wounds, including those with diabetic foot ulcers.
“I am eager to see further advancements in this field, as we aspire for AF imaging to become a standard practice in wound care in the near future,” concluded Armstrong.
The research received partial funding from the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (Award Number 1R01124789-01A1), and the National Science Foundation (NSF) Center to Stream Healthcare in Place (CNS Award Number 2052578).
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