Poster LR-014

Comparison of a Copper-based Antimicrobial Burn Dressing and KerraCel-Ag, a Commercial Silver Burn Dressing

Aaron D Strickland, PhD

Rebecca Verpile, BS – Graduate student, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine; Jingjing Meng, PhD – Medical student, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine; Jamie Burgess, MS – Student, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine; Hadar Lev-tov, MD – Assistant Professor, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine; Marjana Tomic-Canic, PhD – Professor, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine; Irena Pastar, PhD – University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine

Presented at Symposium on Advanced Wound Care Spring Spring 2022

Introduction: Reported here is a preliminary study of a cost-effective copper-based antimicrobial hydrogel wound dressing intended for the treatment of burn wounds for military applications. The dressing is being developed for long-term protection (at least 6 days) in austere environments.

Recent research has demonstrated that wound colonization by MDR organisms occurs primarily within Military Field Hospitals [1, 2], suggesting that nosocomial transmission is a key source of these life-threatening infections [3-6] in addition to the obvious risks associated with infection at the point of injury, and there currently does not exist a standard-issue antimicrobial wound dressing for the military.

Methods: In this study, we describe the production of a hydrogel nonwoven dressing comprised of a blend of fibers, including a novel copper-loaded carboxymethyl cellulose fiber (Cu-CMC). In this preliminary study, we show the broad antimicrobial properties of copper against 3 Gram positive and 3 Gram negative bacteria, yeast, and mold using the FDA recognized in vitro assay, AATCC Test Method 100. The prototype Cu-CMC dressing were also tested within a preclinical porcine in vivo model using both methicillin-resistant S. aureus and P. aeruginosa, and was compared with a commercial silver burn dressing, Kerracel-Ag.

Results and Discussion: In this study we show that the prototype Cu-CMC dressings exhibit broad spectrum antimicrobial activity (e.g., greater than 99.99% reduction) against P. aeruginosa, E. coli, A. baumannii, S. aureus, S. epidermidis, S. pyogenes, C. albicans, and A. brasiliensis using a standard in vitro assay in simulated wound fluid. We also present pilot data in a porcine model of biofilm prevention using P. aeruginosa (BAA-47), S. aureus (MRSA USA300), drug resistant A. baumannii, showing that the prototype Cu-CMC dressings outperform Kerracel-Ag at both 3-day and 6-day treatment timepoints without impacting wound healing (as measured by % re-epithelialization). The Cu-CMC showed 2-3 log reduction relative to the untreated control, whereas Kerracel-Ag showed no statistically significant reduction in bacterial load.

References

1. Calhoun, J.H., C.K. Murray, and M. Manring, Multidrug-resistant organisms in military wounds from Iraq and Afghanistan. Clinical orthopaedics and related research, 2008. 466(6): p. 1356.

2. Eardley, W., et al., Infection in conflict wounded. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 2011. 366(1562): p. 204-218.

3. Griffith, M.E., et al., Factors associated with recovery of Acinetobacter baumannii in a combat support hospital. Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, 2008. 29(7): p. 664-666.

4. Murray, C.K., et al., Recovery of Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria From Combat Personnel Evacuated From Iraq and Afghanistan at a Single Military Treatment Facility. Military Medicine, 2009. 174(6): p. 598-604.

5. Murray, C.K., et al., Bacteria recovered from patients admitted to a deployed US military hospital in Baghdad, Iraq. Military Medicine, 2006. 171(9): p. 821-825.

6. Scott, P., et al., An outbreak of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii-calcoaceticus complex infection in the US military health care system associated with military operations in Iraq. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 2007. 44(12): p. 1577-1584.