Biofilm Based Wound Care
Through trial and error, laboratory and clinical studies, multiple tools have been developed to treat wound biofilm. In treating wounds as if biofilm is a major barrier to wound healing, it is important that the treatments suppress biofilm but not damage host defenses and/or host healing mechanisms. Also, since biofilm is so resilient and robust, it has become apparent that multiple concurrent strategies are most effective.
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Wounds versus other biofilm based human infections are unique in that the surface of biofilm is accessible, which allows physical management. Tissue surfaces, which touch each other sequester the biofilm and give it the advantage. Therefore, by altering the anatomy, that is opening all undermining, opening all tunneling, sculpting the wound bed to remove crevices and redundant tissue takes the advantage from the biofilm and gives it to the host.
What is Biofilm?
When bacteria attach to the surface of the wound and evade the host’s defenses, they can quickly develop into a film, which covers the surface. This film, biofilm, is truly a multicellular organism with several well recognized defenses, synergies between different types of bacteria and the ability to reconstitute itself very quickly. The bacteria in the biofilm arrangement are quite different than those in the planktonic form with only 30% of the proteins in the outer membrane being homologous between the two. These phenotype differences along with metabolic differences in the different regions of the biofilm make biofilm very difficult, if not impossible, to eradicate. The best that can be hoped for is suppression of the biofilm to allow for host healing.
Biofilm Based Wound Care is trademark of Southwest Regional Wound Care Center.
Wound Care Clinic Near Me
The ability to properly manage a wound and ensure it heals requires the expertise of a professional wound care provider.
Southwest Regional Wound Care Center is the right place to get professional wound care in Lubbock, TX. We help manage your wound to prevent it from infection and ensure it heals as quickly as possible.
Contact us today for wound care services provided by the best wound care clinic in Lubbock, TX.
Urgent Wound Care Near Me
Southwest Regional Wound Care Center provides emergency wound care services. Our team of experienced medical professionals are always available to attend to you whenever you need us.
We provide wound care to patients involved in accidents and injuries that require urgent care. We are a leading wound care and management provider in Lubbock, TX.
Contact us in cases of emergencies or when you need urgent wound care services.
How to Remove Biofilm from Wounds
Removing biofilm from wounds allows for proper care and healing of wounds. Biofilm can be removed from wounds with mechanical debridement.
Mechanical debridement is appropriate for both non-infected and infected wounds. It involves removing film from a wound mechanically.
There are various types of mechanical debridement. They include:
Hydrotherapy
This method involves the use of running water to wash off biofilm from a wound. A whirlpool bath, shower, or syringe and catheter tube may be used.
Wet-to-dry dressing
This method involves applying wet gauze to the wound. The wet gauze is allowed to dry and stick to the wound. The gauze is then removed, pulling away the biofilm.
Monofilament debridement
This method involves using a soft polyester pad to gently brush across the wound to remove the biofilm.
How to Treat Biofilm in Wounds
Debridement is the first thing to do when treating biofilm in wounds. After the biofilm is removed from the wound surface, antibiotics and other antimicrobials can be applied to the wound to treat infections.
Biofilm Formation Steps
Biofilm formation is in stages which are;
Step 1: Initial reversible attachment
Biofilm formation starts with a reversible attachment or initial contact of moving planktonic bacteria with the surface of a wound.
Step 2: Irreversible attachment
The bacteria will start to form a monolayer. At this stage, it becomes irreversibly attached to the wound by producing an extracellular matrix.
Step 3: Maturation
A microcolony is then formed where multilayers appear. The biofilm matures and forms structures.
Step 4: Dispersion
Finally, cells start to detach and the biofilm disperses.
Biofilm and Infection Control in Wound Care
Biofilm is an accumulation of microorganisms or bacteria embedded in a thick, slim layer of sugars and proteins.
Biofilm shields microorganisms from antimicrobial medications and a patient’s natural immune system. Hence, a wound with biofilm will remain infected.
To control infection, the biofilm should first be removed from the wound.
Debridement can be used to remove biofilm to allow for adequate treatment of the wound. After the biofilm is removed, the wound will be gently cleaned and an antibiotic ointment applied to the wound to combat infection.