New method for bacterial load measurement during hydro-debridement of cutaneous ulcer

• Published in: Annali italiani di chirurgia Vol. 79; no. 3; p. 187
• Main Authors: Apperti, Marco, Di Lucia, Adriana, Goffredi, Luigi, Federico, Pasquale, Mattera, Eddy, Masella, Andrea, Della Rocca, Mattia Davide, Apperti, Sarah
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Italy 01-05-2008
• Subjects: Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use; Bacterial Infections - diagnosis; Bacterial Infections - drug therapy; Biopsy - methods; Debridement - instrumentation; Debridement - methods; Equipment Design; Humans; Hydrotherapy - methods; Leg Ulcer - drug therapy; Leg Ulcer - microbiology; Leg Ulcer - pathology; Leg Ulcer - surgery; Retrospective Studies; Skin Ulcer - microbiology; Skin Ulcer - surgery; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0003-469X

Based on their experience using Versajet for debridement of chronic wounds, the Authors set up a study protocol to verify whether the hydro-surgical cleansing could offer the possibility of taking tissue specimens suitable for diagnostic microbiological evaluation. The aims of the study were the following:
To evaluate the efficacy of hydro-surgery in detecting the presence of microorganisms and measuring their load, as an alternative to conventional tissue sampling methods; SECONDARY PURPOSE: To set up an easier and less invasive diagnostic modality than surgical biopsy, even though likewise significant.
The results of this study show that tissue specimen collection by hydro-aspiration using Versajet is comparable to biopsy sampling (and in some cases it can be even more reliable); moreover, it is not more time-consuming and is certainly less invasive. Compared to surgical biopsy, with such a method a greater amount of tissue may be collected; moreover, tissue specimens can be taken from a broader surface or, depending on the needs, from a more focused area on the margin or at the bottom of the wound.