New Technology Sheds “Light” on Bacteria in Diabetic Wounds

Having a diabetic wound is serious. Since peripheral neuropathy can cause numbness, if you have diabetes, you might not feel a foot injury, cut or even a blister that could result in an ulcer. Diabetic foot ulcers affect about one-third of those with diabetes.

Almost all chronic wounds contain bacteria, which, if not detected and removed, can lead to severe infection and complications, including amputation if a limb is involved.

According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), approximately 20% of those who develop a diabetic foot ulcer will require a lower-extremity amputation.

When physicians clean out a wound – called debriding – they try to remove as much of the bacteria as possible that they can see. Herein lies the problem. The human eye cannot see all the bacteria so doctors may not detect all bacteria during the debridement.

New lighting technology identifies bacteria

Recent research out of Keck Medicine at the University of Southern California suggests there may be a more effective method to detect bacteria during diabetic wound and other chronic wound debridement. The research investigated Autofluorescence (AF) imaging, where a handheld device “lights up” bacteria previously invisible to the human eye, using violet light to illuminate molecules in the cell walls of any bacteria. Since different types of bacteria turn different colors, physicians can immediately determine how much and which types of bacteria are in the wound. 

The research found that AF imaging can identify bacteria in a diabetic foot ulcer in approximately 9 in 10 patients that traditional clinical assessments miss. Another benefit of the technology is that it eliminates the need to send tissue samples to the lab to identify specific types of bacteria in the wound. With AF imaging physicians can make medical decisions during the wound debridement to initiate treatment. By identifying bacteria early, the patient may avoid needing antibiotics, which in wound care can be prolonged, thus avoiding possible antibiotic resistance. 

Keck Medicine physicians are already using the technology to successfully treat patients with chronic wounds, including diabetic foot ulcers.

Source:

Press Release, “New technology ‘lights up’ bacteria in wounds for better infection prevention,” Keck Medicine of USC, August 27, 2024. https://news.keckmedicine.org/new-technology-lights-up-bacteria-in-wounds-for-better-infection-prevention/