1. EP201 FLUORESCENCE IMAGING PROMPTS MORE THOROUGH DEBRIDEMENT OF BACTERIA & BIOFILM: REAL-WORLD DATA FROM 1000 WOUND ASSESSMENTS ACROSS 36 STATES.
- Author
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Jacob, Ashley, Jones, Laura, Abdo, Raymond J., Cruz-Schiavone, Sebastian, Krehbiel, Nathan, Moyer-Harris, Audrey, McAtee, Alyssa, Baker, Isabel, Gray, Micaela, and Rennie, Monique
- Subjects
CHRONIC wounds & injuries ,DEBRIDEMENT ,BIOFILMS ,CONFERENCES & conventions ,DIAGNOSTIC imaging ,DECISION making in clinical medicine ,DISEASE complications - Abstract
Aim: High bacterial loads in chronic wounds increase infection and complication risk. This analysis aims to illustrate how the objective detection and localization of bacterial loads through point-of-care fluorescence (FL) impacts treatment decisions. Method: A retrospective single time-point analysis of treatment decisions from 1000 chronic wounds (DFUs, VLUs, PIs, surgical wounds, burns, and others) assessed by clinicians at 211 facilities across 36 US states. No exclusion criteria were applied. Clinicians proposed treatment plans for each wound before and after FL imaging (MolecuLight) were recorded, including clinical signs and symptoms of infection (CSS), FL-imaging findings, and any treatment plan changes. Results / Discussion: FL signals indicating elevated bacterial loads were observed in 701 wounds (70.8%), but CSS were present in only 293 (29.6%). Post FL-imaging, treatment plans changed in 528 wounds, types of changes included: change in dressing selection (3.2%), more extensive hygiene (17.2%) or debridement (18.7%), FL-targeted debridement (17.2%), FL-guided sampling for microbiological analysis (6.2%), new topical therapies and systemic antibiotic prescriptions (10.1% and 9.0%, respectively). Conclusion: These real-world findings of asymptomatic bacterial load/biofilm prevalence, and of the frequent treatment plan changes post-imaging, are in keeping with clinical trial findings on this technology. These data, from a range of wound types, facilities, and clinician skill sets, suggest that point-of-care FL-imaging information enhances bacterial-infection management and allows for more proactive and custom-tailored therapeutic options. Combined with U.K. randomized controlled trial evidence of improved healing rates, our findings demonstrate the potential of proactive, FL-guided care to improve wound outcomes at a reduced cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023