New research from the Mayo Clinic and Washington State University suggests that e-bandages could be used instead of antibiotics to treat wound infections.
The findings will be presented at ASM Microbe 2022, the American Society for Microbiology’s annual meeting.
In a recent mouse study, new hydrogen peroxide-producing bandages with electrical/chemical properties (electro-chemical bandages or e-bandages) controlled by wearable voltage devices reduced methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) biofilm bacteria present in the wound by 99 percent after two days of treatment.
Cleaning the wound with various solutions, such as hydrogen peroxide, applying antiseptic lotions or ointments, and, in some cases, administering antibiotics are all common treatments for wound injuries. If wounds do not heal, they may proceed to a chronic stage, which is much more difficult to manage. Chronic wounds are known to host biofilms, according to research (communities of microorganisms living together attaching to surfaces). Bacteria present in such biofilms can grow and resist antibiotic treatment, making them difficult to treat even with long-term antibiotic treatment. Antibiotic use for an extended period of time can lead to the selection of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms. Biofilm-harboring wounds are common in patients who are older, diabetic, or immuno-compromised; biofilm-harboring wounds are common in patients who are older, diabetic, or immuno-compromised.
“Wound infections are common and can be challenging to treat. Thus, it is important to develop new strategies, technologies and treatment regimens that do not rely on antibiotics,” according to senior study author Yash S. Raval.
Wounds are cleaned with a hydrogen peroxide solution. Although hydrogen peroxide contains antibacterial and wound-healing capabilities, the solution is chemically unstable, and hence its effects are temporary. Dr. Raval and colleagues have created e-bandages that release hydrogen peroxide on a continual basis to treat wound infections.
“Specifically, we have developed and examined antibacterial properties of a novel kind of bandage which continuously produces hydrogen peroxide through application of a specific negative voltage,” Dr. Raval explained.
In the study, the researchers used mice that had been injured in some way and then infected those mice with MRSA in order to establish wound MRSA biofilms. They then used wearable e-bandage technology to treat infected wounds. The bacterial biofilm population was eliminated by 99 percent using hydrogen peroxide-producing e-bandages.
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