Studies have shown that up to 5 percent of people who undergo surgery can develop an infection, which can prolong healing or lead to dangerous complications.
Additionally, chronic wounds affect approximately 6.5 million patients in the United States.
Some bacteria are invisible to the human eye and may be missed by doctors when cleaning wounds.
A new medical technique that uses fluorescent light is effective at detecting bacteria that might otherwise be overlooked, according to a new study led by the University of Southern California, Los Angeles (USC).
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According to a USC press release, a review of 26 medical studies found that a handheld device using autofluorescence (AF) imaging was able to “light up” bacteria in nine out of 10 wounds, changing color to reflect different types of bacteria.
The findings were recently published in the medical journal Advances in Wound Care.
A new medical technique that uses fluorescent light has proven effective in detecting bacteria that would otherwise be missed. (iStock)
Real-time detection
The researchers noted that traditionally, surgeons would take tissue samples from the wound and send them to a lab for testing to determine what types of bacteria are present.
Results may take several days to become available, during which time infection may occur.
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“If the bacteria gets into a cut or wound and colonizes, it can cause an infection of the wound,” Dr. Raj Dasgupta, a pulmonologist and critical care physician at Huntington Health in Los Angeles, told Fox News Digital.
“If a wound infection goes untreated, it can spread to other parts of the body and cause serious complications,” said Dasgupta, who was not involved in the new study.
A review of 26 medical studies found that a handheld device using autofluorescence imaging was able to “detect” bacteria in nine out of 10 wounds. (iStock)
According to the researchers, this lighting technology will enable clinicians to see bacteria in real time, allowing for more targeted and effective wound treatment.
“Fluorescence imaging, especially with a device like the MolecuLight, greatly improves our ability to detect bacterial load in chronic wounds such as diabetic foot ulcers,” lead study author Dr. David G. Armstrong, professor of neurosurgery and director of the USC Limb Preservation Program, told Fox News Digital.
“If a wound infection goes untreated, it can spread to other parts of the body and cause serious complications.”
It may also help prevent the need for antibiotics by eliminating bacteria before an infection occurs.
“This study also explores the potential of wearable fluorescence imaging devices, which could further revolutionize surgical debridement by providing continuous visualization during surgery,” Armstrong added.
According to the researchers, this lighting technology will enable clinicians to see bacteria in real time, allowing for more targeted and effective wound treatment. (iStock)
One of the study's most surprising findings is that while high bacterial loads don't necessarily cause symptoms, they still slow down the healing process, the researchers say.
This highlights the need for “more sophisticated diagnostic tools” in wound management.
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“The big idea here is that we might be able to prevent infection before it even starts, before we give antibiotics,” Armstrong said. “This is the ultimate way to control the proliferation of superbugs.”
Based on this study, Armstrong recommends that clinicians consider incorporating fluorescence imaging into their standard wound care protocols, especially for chronic wounds like diabetic foot ulcers.
“The big idea here is that we might be able to prevent infection before we have to give antibiotics.”
“This technology not only improves the accuracy of debridement but also aids in earlier intervention, potentially reducing the risk of complications such as infection and amputation,” he told Fox News Digital.
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“We also encourage healthcare professionals to stay informed about advances in wearable imaging technology, which may allow for even greater flexibility and precision in wound care in the near future.”
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Patrick Davis, MD, a facial plastic surgeon at Davis Facial Plastics in Beverly Hills, California, stresses the importance of preventing bacterial infections, especially in those at high risk for these types of complications.
“This technique not only improves the accuracy of debridement but also aids in earlier intervention, potentially reducing the risk of complications such as infection and amputation,” the researchers said. (iStock)
“There have been modest studies done on using fluorescent light to illuminate specific wound beds,” Davis, who was not involved in the new study, told Fox News Digital.
“The idea is that certain bacteria emit certain wavelengths of light. For example, a staph infection will emit a different color than other types of bacteria.”
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Davis noted that this could help identify what antibiotics to use for treatment, as well as provide surgeons with a “bacterial burden” that indicates the level of bacteria in the wound.
Surgeons say the use of this technology still requires further study.
The technology could help prevent the need for antibiotics by eliminating bacteria before infection occurs. (iStock)
“At present, this technology does not replace laboratory testing, which involves swabbing the area to determine exactly what type of bacteria is present and what antibiotics to use,” he said.
“But while this technique can give a real-time hint about the families of bacteria present, it may not be very specific. That has yet to be determined in the lab.”
Dasgupta agreed that the device could be a “safe, effective, accurate and easy-to-use tool” to improve wound assessment, but noted that fluorescence imaging has some limitations when used to detect bacterial infections.
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“The evaluation is limited to bacteria that produce fluorescent molecules on the surface of the skin and beneath the skin,” Dasgupta told Fox News Digital.
“Detection ability also depends on the number of bacteria present in the wound,” he continued, “and this type of assessment does not capture the depth of the wound.”
Study limitations
A major limitation of the study, Armstrong noted, is that the fluorescence imaging equipment relied on “controlled lighting conditions” to function accurately.
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“This can pose challenges in certain clinical settings, particularly in real-time surgical environments,” he said.
Approximately 6.5 million people in the United States suffer from chronic wounds.
Further research is also needed to confirm the effectiveness of wearable devices compared to existing handheld devices.
The research was funded in part by the National Institutes of Health, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases and the National Science Foundation's Center for Medical Field Streams.
