The slide above depicts the importance of eliminating Bacterial Fluorescence (Bioburden, Biofilm) from the wound bed in order for split thickness skin graft survivability. Bacterial Fluorescence is the presence of Biofilm and with eradication, and if eradicated, the study revealed a 99.2% survival rate. When Bacterial Fluorescence remained, the graft survival rate was 27.9% (nearly 1 out of 4 grafts survived). The study which was published in 2024 demonstrates the acute situational awareness of Biofilm presence and the understanding on how disruptive its presence may neutralize our efforts in wound healing.
Bacterial Fluorescence is a documented independent risk factor for wound healing as demonstrated by this slide. Bacterial Fluorescence is also being studied as a predictive capability of better practices and outcomes in wound care. In a recent study, Bacterial Fluorescence demonstrated a predictable outcome of STS graft survival rates base on eradication vs its presence. In this study, the elimination of Bacterial Fluorescence (Bioburden, Biofilm) revealed a 28% decrease in the wound size in one week. Conversely, the presence of Bacterial Fluorescence revealed an increase in the wound surface area by 7% per week. In other words, with the elimination of Bacterial Fluorescence within the wound, not only will a graft survival rate increase, but also the wound size will decrease.