Analysis of the Impact of Molecular Diagnostics and Topical Directed Therapy in the Implementation of Biofilm-Based Chronic Wound Care

Background: Patients who suffer with chronic nonhealing wounds face a multitude of challenges, including reduction in the quality of life and depression. Financial considerations are significant to both the individual and the healthcare community delivering care to the patient with the chronic wound. As we learn more about the factors that delay wound healing, one major consideration is to address the microorganisms that inhabit the wound surface and cause extended inflammation that prevents new tissue growth. A model for biofilm-based wound care has been developed by experts in the field, and one early component of the model is to utilize molecular diagnostic technology to identify the biofilm bacteria present to direct therapy.

Purpose: This project is a summary of the use of molecular diagnostics on a group of twenty patients’ wounds. The molecular diagnostic results were utilized to prescribe custom compounded ointments for use in their wound care plan.

Methods: A comparison is drawn between this group of twenty patients and twenty other patients who received standard wound care. The group size was not large enough to be statistically significant.

Results: Trends identified in the results demonstrate the patients who received custom ointment had a 4-week average shorter healing time; a larger study size would be beneficial to ascertain significance. The results are compelling, demonstrating the potential benefit of utilizing molecular diagnostics to direct therapy to heal chronic wounds. This technology and custom directed therapy are incorporated into a biofilm-based protocol designed for use in the hospital system wound clinics.