Immobilization of Bacteriophages in Ex Tempore Hydrogel for the Treatment of Burn Wound Infection

Abstract

The resistance of bacteria to antibiotics is a major problem for anti-bacterial therapy. This problem may be solved by using bacteriophages—viruses that can attack and destroy bacteria, including antibiotic-resistant ones. In this article, the authors compared the efficacy of topical bacteriophage therapy and systemic antibiotic therapy in the treatment of wound infections caused by ESKAPE pathogens in patients with limited (less than 5% of the body surface) full-thickness burns. Patients in the study group (n = 30) were treated with PVA-based hydrogel dressings saturated ex tempore with a bacteriophage suspension characterized by its lytic activity against the bacteria colonizing the wound. Patients in the control group (n = 30) were treated using etiotropic systemic antibiotic therapy, and the wounds were covered with gauze bandages soaked in an aqueous solution of povidone-iodine. An assessment of the decrease in the level of bacterial contamination of the recipient wounds in both groups was conducted after 7 days, and after that, free skin grafting was performed. On day 14 after free skin grafting, patients in both groups underwent incisional biopsy. The study group demonstrated an increase in the indices of proliferative activity (Ki-67), and angiogenesis (CD-31, VEGF) in the area of engraftment of the split-thickness skin grafts. The results indicate that PVA-based hydrogel wound dressings can be used as bacteriophage carriers for local antimicrobial therapy ahead of free skin grafting.

The Bacteriophages Therapy of Interdigital Pyoderma Complicated by Cellulitis with Antibiotic-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a Dog—Case Report

“…One of the therapeutic options for patients with infections refractory to antibiotic therapy is based on bacteriophages. These are a diverse collection of viruses that are easy to use, in various antibacterial treatments [2][3][4][5][6]21].…”

“…In recent years, P. aeruginosa has been identified as one of the most resistant bacteria to antimicrobials in both humans and animals, especially pets [1]. Due to the significant increase in multidrug-resistant bacteria, bacteriophages represent one of the therapeutic alternatives for the prevention and especially for the treatment of bacterial infections in humans and animals [2][3][4][5].…”

Differentiated Approach to Antihypoxic, Endoportal and Phage Therapy for Advanced Purulent Peritonitis

“…The clinical effectiveness of the use of phages has been confirmed in the treatment of patients with acute destructive pancreatitis and pancreatic necrosis, as well as infectious complications in abdominal surgery. To improve the antimicrobial effect, it is necessary to constantly monitor the sensitivity of microflora to drugs of bacteriophages and constantly update drugs for PT [31][32][33][34].…”