Biomaterial Database

Bacterial colonization and healing of venous leg ulcers. 1996

S M Madsen, and H Westh, and L Danielsen, and V T Rosdahl

Coloplast A/S, Humlebaek, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.

The aim of the study was to evaluate a possible influence of selected bacterial species on healing of venous leg ulcers. Fifty-nine patients with venous leg ulcers were followed via frequent semiquantitative culture of bacteria from the ulcer surface and determination of the ulcer area over a period of 180 days. Occurrences of cellulitis were treated with systemic antibiotics. There was a significant difference in relative areas on days 90 and 180 when ulcers with growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were compared to those without (p = 0.0080 and 0.0133, respectively). Ulcers with P. aeruginosa were characterized to a great extent by enlargement in contrast to those without. Ulcers with growth of Staphylococcus aureus or haemolytic streptococci healed significantly more slowly than those without when relative areas were compared on day 180 (p = 0.0079 and 0.0492, respectively). Complete healing within the observation period of 180 days was observed in 10.5% of patients with P. aeruginosa and 35% of those without (p = 0.0631), in 21.6% of patients with S. aureus and 62.5% of those without (p = 0.0278), and in 10.5% of patients with haemolytic streptococci and 35% of those without (p = 0.0631). The initial areas of ulcers colonized with P. aeruginosa or S. aureus were significantly larger than those without, but no significant correlation between initial areas and ulcer healing was revealed. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that P. aeruginosa in venous leg ulcers can induce ulcer enlargement and/or cause a healing delay. The results also suggest a healing delay caused by S. aureus and haemolytic streptococci. However, conclusions have to be treated with caution since P. aeruginosa was found in combination with haemolytic streptococci in 15.3% of the patients.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D011552	Pseudomonas Infections	Infections with bacteria of the genus PSEUDOMONAS.	Infections, Pseudomonas,Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infection,Infection, Pseudomonas,Pseudomonas Infection,Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infections
D002481	Cellulitis	An acute, diffuse, and suppurative inflammation of loose connective tissue, particularly the deep subcutaneous tissues, and sometimes muscle, which is most commonly seen as a result of infection of a wound, ulcer, or other skin lesions.	Phlegmon
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001424	Bacterial Infections	Infections by bacteria, general or unspecified.	Bacterial Disease,Bacterial Infection,Infection, Bacterial,Infections, Bacterial,Bacterial Diseases
D013203	Staphylococcal Infections	Infections with bacteria of the genus STAPHYLOCOCCUS.	Infections, Staphylococcal,Staphylococcus aureus Infection,Staphylococcal Infection,Staphylococcus aureus Infections
D013290	Streptococcal Infections	Infections with bacteria of the genus STREPTOCOCCUS.	Group A Strep Infection,Group A Streptococcal Infection,Group A Streptococcal Infections,Group B Strep Infection,Group B Streptococcal Infection,Group B Streptococcal Infections,Infections, Streptococcal,Infection, Streptococcal,Streptococcal Infection
D014647	Varicose Ulcer	Skin breakdown or ulceration in the drainage area of a VARICOSE VEIN, usually in the leg.	Stasis Ulcer,Venous Ulcer,Venous Hypertension Ulcers,Venous Stasis Ulcers,Hypertension Ulcer, Venous,Hypertension Ulcers, Venous,Stasis Ulcer, Venous,Stasis Ulcers,Stasis Ulcers, Venous,Ulcer, Stasis,Ulcer, Varicose,Ulcer, Venous,Ulcer, Venous Hypertension,Ulcer, Venous Stasis,Ulcers, Stasis,Ulcers, Varicose,Ulcers, Venous,Ulcers, Venous Hypertension,Ulcers, Venous Stasis,Varicose Ulcers,Venous Hypertension Ulcer,Venous Stasis Ulcer,Venous Ulcers
D014945	Wound Healing	Restoration of integrity to traumatized tissue.	Healing, Wound,Healings, Wound,Wound Healings