Ultraviolet-A Light and Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy to Accelerate Wound Healing and Reduce Bacterial Proliferation.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Ultraviolet (UV)-A therapy is a simple, inexpensive, and effective modality for wound healing, with tremendous potential to improve healing and reduce clinical infections in a number of clinical settings. To date, application of UV-A relies on bulky and hard-to-dose lamps that provide inconsistent therapy, thus making it difficult to apply therapy that is appropriate for the patient.

METHODS:

This study was designed to test the effectiveness of a novel wound therapy device that combines UV-A with traditional negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) to promote wound healing. Furthermore, we tested the ability of fiberoptic UV-A delivery to inhibit bacterial proliferation. Finally, we assayed the level of DNA damage that results from UV-A as compared to established UV-C therapies. Wound healing studies were performed in a porcine model using an articulated therapy arm that allows for continued therapy administration over an extended time course. Negative-pressure wound therapy was administered alone or with UV-A fiberoptic therapy for 2 weeks. Dressings were changed twice a week, at which time wound area was assessed.

RESULTS:

Data demonstrate that UV-A with NPWT treatment of wounds results in greater healing than NPWT alone. Using the same therapy device, we demonstrate that exposure of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa to fiberoptic UV-A results in decreased colony area and number of both bacterial strains. Finally, we show that UV-A induces minimal DNA damage in human fibroblasts and no more DNA damage in wound tissue as compare to intact skin.

CONCLUSIONS:

These data demonstrate that UV-A can decrease bacterial proliferation and promote wound healing when coupled with NPWT.

• Authors: Kathryn E Davis, Jessica Bills, Debby Noble, Peter A Crisologo, Lawrence A Lavery
• Journal: Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc) 2023 Jan-Feb Vol. 113 Issue 1 ISSN: 1930-8264 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 34233359 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Topics

• Humans
• Animals
• Swine
• Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy (methods)
• Wound Healing
• Orthopedic Procedures
• Skin Transplantation
• Cell Proliferation