In:
Scientific Reports, Springer Science and Business Media LLC, Vol. 10, No. 1 ( 2020-07-13)
Abstract:
Immunocompromised patients are predisposed to chronically infected wounds. Especially ulcers in the dorsal region often experience secondary polymicrobial infections. However, current wound infection models mostly use single-strain bacteria. To mimic clinically occurring infections caused by fecal contamination in immunocompromised/immobile patients, which differ significantly from single-strain infections, the present study aimed at the establishment of a new mouse model using infection by fecal bacteria. Dorsal circular excision wounds in immunosuppressed mice were infected with fecal slurry solution in several dilutions up to 1:8,000. Impact of immunosuppressor, bacterial load and timing on development of wound infections was investigated. Wounds were analyzed by scoring, 3D imaging and swab analyses. Autofluorescence imaging was not successful. Dose-finding of cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression was necessary for establishment of bacterial wound infections. Infection with fecal slurry diluted 1:166 to 1:400 induced significantly delayed wound healing (p 〈 0.05) without systemic reactions. Swab analyses post-infection matched the initial polymicrobial suspension. The customized wound score confirmed significant differences between the groups (p 〈 0.05). Here we report the establishment of a simple, new mouse model for clinically occurring wound infections by fecal bacteria and the evaluation of appropriate wound analysis methods. In the future, this model will provide a suitable tool for the investigation of complex microbiological interactions and evaluation of new therapeutic approaches.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
2045-2322
DOI:
10.1038/s41598-020-68323-5
Language:
English
Publisher:
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Publication Date:
2020
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2615211-3
