A quantitative swab is a good non-invasive alternative to a quantitative biopsy for quantifying bacterial load in wounds healing by second intention in horses.
Abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate different techniques for diagnosing wound infection in wounds healing by second intention in horses and to assess the effect of a vortex and sonication protocol on quantitative bacteriology in specimens with a histologically confirmed biofilm. In 50 wounds healing by second intention, a clinical assessment, a quantitative swab, a semi-quantitative swab, and a swab for cytology were compared to a quantitative tissue biopsy (reference standard). Part of the biopsy specimen was examined histologically for evidence of a biofilm. There was a significant, high correlation (P<0.001; r=0.747) between the outcome of the quantitative swabs and the quantitative biopsies. The semi-quantitative swabs showed a significant, moderate correlation with the quantitative biopsies (P<0.001; ρ=0.524). Higher white blood cell counts for cytology were significantly associated with lower log10 colony-forming units (CFU) in the wounds (P=0.02). Wounds with black granulation tissue showed significantly higher log10 CFU (P=0.003). Specimens with biofilms did not yield higher bacteriological counts after a vortex and sonication protocol was performed to release bacteria from the biofilm. Based on these findings, a quantitative swab is an acceptable non-invasive alternative to a quantitative biopsy for quantifying bacterial load in equine wounds healing by second intention.
Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2017-06-19 PubMed ID: 28720301DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2017.06.004Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
Summary
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This research aims to assess different techniques to diagnose wound infections in horses, particularly wounds healing by a process called second intention. The study finds that a quantitative swab method is a reliable, non-invasive alternative to a quantitative biopsy for measuring bacterial load in such wounds.
Objective of the Study
- The study aimed to compare various available methods for diagnosing infections in equine wounds that are healing by a process known as “second intention”. These methods included clinical assessment, quantitative swab, semi-quantitative swab, and a swab for cytology. The findings from these methods were compared with results from a quantitative tissue biopsy, which served as a reference standard in this case.
Methodology
- A total of 50 wounds that were healing by second intention were assessed using the methods mentioned above. Further, a part of the biopsy specimen was also examined histologically to check for the presence of a biofilm, which is a layer of bacteria that can form on wound surfaces.
- Furthermore, a few specimens with biofilms were subjected to a vortex and sonication protocol; this was done to release bacteria from the biofilm, and assesses the effect on quantitative bacteriology.
Findings
- The study found a high correlation between the results of the quantitative swabs and the quantitative biopsies, indicating that the swab method could accurately represent the bacterial load in the wounds.
- Results from semi-quantitative swabs also showed a moderate correlation with the biopsies.
- It was observed that higher white blood cell counts were significantly associated with lower bacterial counts in the wounds. Additionally, wounds with black granulation tissue showed higher bacterial counts.
- The vortex and sonication protocol did not result in higher bacteriological counts in specimens with biofilms, indicating that this technique may not be effective in biofilm cases.
Conclusion
- Based on its findings, the study concludes that a quantitative swab is an acceptable non-invasive alternative to a quantitative biopsy for determining bacterial load in wounds of horses healing by second intention.
Cite This Article
APA
Van Hecke LL, Hermans K, Haspeslagh M, Chiers K, Pint E, Boyen F, Martens AM.
(2017).
A quantitative swab is a good non-invasive alternative to a quantitative biopsy for quantifying bacterial load in wounds healing by second intention in horses.
Vet J, 225, 63-68.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2017.06.004 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Surgery and Anaesthesiology of Domestic Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium. Electronic address: lore.vanhecke@ugent.be.
- Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
- Department of Surgery and Anaesthesiology of Domestic Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
- Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
- Department of Surgery and Anaesthesiology of Domestic Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
- Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
- Department of Surgery and Anaesthesiology of Domestic Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Bacterial Load / veterinary
- Biofilms
- Biopsy / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / microbiology
- Horse Diseases / therapy
- Horses
- Specimen Handling / methods
- Specimen Handling / veterinary
- Wound Healing
- Wound Infection / microbiology
- Wound Infection / therapy
- Wound Infection / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 8 times.- Garzon A, Hoyos-Jaramillo A, Hustad S, Byrne BA, Fritz HM, Lehenbauer TW, Aly S, Pereira R. In vitro evaluation of the effect of transport medium, temperature, and time on the recovery of Mannheimia haemolytica and Pasteurella multocida. JDS Commun 2023 May;4(3):214-218.
- Afonso AC, Sousa M, Pinto AR, Cotovio M, Simões M, Saavedra MJ. Biofilm Production by Critical Antibiotic-Resistant Pathogens from an Equine Wound. Animals (Basel) 2023 Apr 13;13(8).
- Nesse LL, Osland AM, Vestby LK. The Role of Biofilms in the Pathogenesis of Animal Bacterial Infections. Microorganisms 2023 Feb 28;11(3).
- Brock AK, Chamoun-Emanuelli AM, Howard EA, Huntzinger KD, Lawhon SD, Bryan LK, Cosgriff-Hernandez EM, Cohen ND, Whitfield-Cargile CM. Wound swabs versus biopsies to detect methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus in experimental equine wounds. Vet Surg 2022 Nov;51(8):1196-1205.
- Jørgensen E, Bjarnsholt T, Jacobsen S. Biofilm and Equine Limb Wounds. Animals (Basel) 2021 Sep 27;11(10).
- Van Driessche L, De Neve C, Haesebrouck F, van Leenen K, Boyen F, Pardon B. Storage time and temperature affect the isolation rate of Mannheimia haemolytica and Pasteurella multocida from bovine bronchoalveolar lavage samples. BMC Vet Res 2020 Jul 13;16(1):238.
- Van Driessche L, Bokma J, Deprez P, Haesebrouck F, Boyen F, Pardon B. Rapid identification of respiratory bacterial pathogens from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in cattle by MALDI-TOF MS. Sci Rep 2019 Dec 5;9(1):18381.
- Jørgensen E, Bay L, Skovgaard LT, Bjarnsholt T, Jacobsen S. An Equine Wound Model to Study Effects of Bacterial Aggregates on Wound Healing. Adv Wound Care (New Rochelle) 2019 Oct 1;8(10):487-498.
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