Citations

ABSTRACT Wound infections, exacerbated by the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacterial pathogens, necessitate innovative antimicrobial approaches. Polymicrobial infections, often involving Pseudomonas aeruginosa and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), present challenges due to biofilm formation and antibiotic resistance. Hypochlorous acid (HOCl), a potent antimicrobial agent, holds promise as an alternative therapy. An electrochemical bandage (e-bandage) that generates HOCl in situ via precise polarization controlled by a miniaturized potentiostat was evaluated for the treatment of murine wound biofilm infections containing both P. aeruginosa with “difficult-to-treat” resistance and MRSA. Previously, HOCl-producing e-bandage was shown to reduce murine wound biofilms containing P. aeruginosa alone. Here, in 5-mm excisional skin wounds containing 48-h biofilms comprising MRSA and P. aeruginosa combined, polarized e-bandage treatment reduced MRSA by 1.1 log 10 CFU/g ( P = 0.026) vs non-polarized e-bandage treatment (no HOCl production), and 1.4 log 10 CFU/g (0.0015) vs Tegaderm only controls; P. aeruginosa was similarly reduced by 1.6 log 10 CFU/g ( P = 0.0032) and 1.6 log 10 CFU/g ( P = 0.0015), respectively. For wounds infected with MRSA alone, polarized e-bandage treatment reduced bacterial load by 1.1 log 10 CFU/g ( P = 0.0048) and 1.3 log 10 CFU/g ( P = 0.0048) compared with non-polarized e-bandage and Tegaderm only, respectively. The e-bandage treatment did not negatively impact wound healing or cause tissue toxicity. The addition of systemic antibiotics did not enhance the antimicrobial efficacy of e-bandages. This study provides additional evidence for the HOCl-producing e-bandage as a novel antimicrobial strategy for managing wound infections, including in the context of antibiotic resistance and polymicrobial infections. IMPORTANCE New approaches are needed to combat the rise of antimicrobial-resistant infections. The HOCl-producing electrochemical bandage (e-bandage) leverages in situ generation of HOCl, a natural biocide, for broad-spectrum killing of wound pathogens. Unlike traditional therapies that may exhibit limited activity against biofilms and antimicrobial-resistant organisms, the e-bandage offers a potent, standalone solution that does not contribute to further resistance or require adjunctive antibiotic therapy. Here, we show the ability of the e-bandage to address polymicrobial infection by antimicrobial resistant clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa , two commonly isolated, co-infecting wound pathogens. Effectiveness of the HOCl-producing e-bandage in reducing pathogen load while minimizing tissue toxicity and avoiding the need for systemic antibiotics underscores its potential as a tool in managing complex wound infections.

ABSTRACT The growing threat of antibiotic-resistant bacterial pathogens necessitates the development of alternative antimicrobial approaches. This is particularly true for chronic wound infections, which commonly harbor biofilm-dwelling bacteria. A novel electrochemical bandage (e-bandage) delivering low-levels of hypochlorous acid (HOCl) was evaluated against Pseudomonas aeruginosa murine wound biofilms. 5 mm skin wounds were created on the dorsum of mice and infected with 10 6 colony-forming units (CFU) of P. aeruginosa . Biofilms were formed over 2 days, after which e-bandages were placed on the wound beds and covered with Tegaderm. Mice were administered Tegaderm-only (control), non-polarized e-bandage (no HOCl production), or polarized e-bandage (using an HOCl-producing potentiostat), with or without systemic amikacin. Purulence and wound areas were measured before and after treatment. After 48 hours, wounds were harvested for bacterial quantification. Forty-eight hours of polarized e-bandage treatment resulted in mean biofilm reductions of 1.4 log 10 CFUs/g ( P = 0.0107) vs non-polarized controls and 2.2 log 10 CFU/g ( P = 0.004) vs Tegaderm-only controls. Amikacin improved CFU reduction in Tegaderm-only ( P = 0.0045) and non-polarized control groups ( P = 0.0312) but not in the polarized group ( P = 0.3876). Compared to the Tegaderm-only group, there was less purulence in the polarized group ( P = 0.009). Wound closure was neither impeded nor improved by either polarized or non-polarized e-bandage treatment. Concurrent amikacin did not impact wound closure or purulence. In conclusion, an HOCl-producing e-bandage reduced P. aeruginosa in wound biofilms with no impairment in wound healing, representing a promising antibiotic-free approach for addressing wound infection.

Abstract Background Biofilms formed by antibiotic-resistant bacteria in wound beds present unique challenges in terms of treating wound infections. In this work, the in vivo anti-biofilm activity of a novel electrochemical bandage (e-bandage) designed to continuously deliver low amounts of hypochlorous acid (HOCl) was evaluated against wound biofilm infections caused by a clinical isolate of Pseudomonas aeruginosa resistant to all antibiotic classes except aminoglycosides. Methods 5 mm skin wounds were created on the dorsal surface of Swiss-Webster mice and infected with 106 CFU of P. aeruginosa. Biofilms were allowed to form over 2 days, after which e-bandages with Tegaderm™ or Tegaderm only were placed on the wound beds. Specifically, mice were randomized to one of three experimental groups (n = 7-8): 1) Tegaderm only (control); 2) non-polarized e-bandage; 3) polarized e-bandage using a wearable potentiostat. After 48 hours, animals were sacrificed and 10 mm skin biopsies containing the wound and surrounding tissue were harvested for bacterial quantification. Histopathology was performed on H&E-stained sections of wound beds from each treatment group. Blood was screened with an inflammatory cytokine panel. Wound healing (% area reduction; digital measurement) and purulence (observational scoring) were assessed in pre- and post-treatment wounds. Results 48 hours of polarized e-bandage treatment resulted in a mean reduction of 1.86 log10 biofilm CFUs/g (p < 0.0001) vs non-polarized controls, and 2.18 log10 CFU/g reduction (p < 0.0001) vs Tegaderm only controls (polarized, 7.6 ± 0.66 log10 CFU/g; non-polarized, 9.45 ± 0.26 log+10 CFU/g; Tegaderm only, 9.78 ± 0.16 log10 CFU/g). Compared to Tegaderm only, purulence reduction and wound healing were significantly higher for both non-polarized (purulence - p < 0.0001; healing - p < 0.01 ) and polarized treatment (purulence - p < 0.0001; healing - p < 0.0001) groups, but were not significantly different from each other. Histopathology and blood inflammation panel testing showed no significant differences between groups. Conclusion An HOCl-producing e-bandage reduced P. aeruginosa in wound biofilms, representing a potential antibiotic-free strategy for the treatment of recalcitrant wound infections. Disclosures Audrey N. Schuetz, MD, Merck: Advisor/Consultant Robin Patel, MD, Abbott Laboratories: Advisor/Consultant|Adaptive Phage Therapeutics: Grant/Research Support|Adaptive Phage Therapeutics: Mayo Clinic has a royalty-bearing know-how agreement and equity in Adaptive Phage Therapeutics.|BIOFIRE: Grant/Research Support|CARB-X: Advisor/Consultant|ContraFect: Grant/Research Support|Day Zero Diagnostics: Advisor/Consultant|HealthTrackRx: Advisor/Consultant|Mammoth Biosciences: Advisor/Consultant|Netflix: Advisor/Consultant|Oxford Nanopore Technologies: Advisor/Consultant|PhAST: Advisor/Consultant|See details: Patent on Bordetella pertussis/parapertussis PCR issued, a patent on a device/method for sonication with royalties paid by Samsung to Mayo Clinic|See details: continued, patent on an anti-biofilm substance issued|TenNor Therapeutics Limited: Grant/Research Support|Torus Biosystems: Advisor/Consultant|Trellis Bioscience, Inc.: Advisor/Consultant