Splenda promoted gut Proteobacteria, dysbiosis, and biochemical MPO reactivity in a spontaneous model of (Bacteroidetes-rich) ileal CD. Our results indicate that although Splenda may promote parallel microbiome alterations in CD-prone and healthy hosts, this did not result in elevated MPO levels in healthy mice, only CD-prone mice. The consumption of sucralose/maltodextrin-containing foods might exacerbate MPO intestinal reactivity only in individuals with a pro-inflammatory predisposition, such as CD.

Irrigation and removal of necrotic debris can be beneficial for proper healing. It is becoming increasingly evident that wounds colonized with biofilm forming bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus (SA), can be more difficult to eradicate. Here we report our findings of the effects of an irrigation solution containing propyl-betaine and polyhexanide (PHMB) on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) biofilms in a porcine wound model. Thirty-nine deep partial thickness wounds were created with six wounds assigned to one of six treatment groups: (i) PHMB, (ii) Ringer's solution, (iii) hypochlorous acid/sodium hypochlorite, (iv) sterile water, (v) octenidine dihydrochloride, and (vi) octenilin. Wounds were inoculated with MRSA and covered with a polyurethane dressing for 24 hours to allow biofilm formation. The dressings were then removed and the wounds were irrigated twice daily for 3 days with the appropriate solution. MRSA from four wounds were recovered from each treatment group at 3 days and 6 days hours after initial treatment. Irrigation of wounds with the PHMB solution resulted in 97·85% and 99·64% reductions of MRSA at the respective 3 days and 6 days assessment times when compared to the untreated group. Both of these reductions were statistically significant compared to all other treatment groups (P values <0·05).

Combat injuries are associated with a high incidence of infection, and there is a continuing need for improved approaches to control infection and promote wound healing. Due to the possible local and systemic adverse effects of standard 1% cream formulation (Silvadene), we had previously developed a polyethylene glycol (PEGylated) fibrin hydrogel (FPEG)-based wound dressing for the controlled delivery of silver sulfadiazine (SSD) entrapped in chitosan microspheres (CSM). In this study, we have evaluated the antimicrobial and wound healing efficacy of SSD-CSM-FPEG using a full-thickness porcine wound infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Infected wounds treated with a one-time application of the SSD-CSM-FPEG wound dressing demonstrated significantly reduced bacterial bioburden over time (99·99% of reduction by day 11; P < 0·05) compared with all the other treatment groups. The epithelial thickness and granulation of the wound bed was significantly better on day 7 (150·9 ± 13·12 µm), when compared with other treatment groups. Overall, our findings demonstrate that the SSD-CSM-FPEG wound dressing effectively controls P. aeruginosa infection and promotes wound healing by providing a favourable environment that induces neovascularisation. Collectively, sustained release of SSD using fibrin hydrogel exhibited enhanced benefits when compared with the currently available SSD treatment, and this may have significant implications in the bacterial reduction of infected wounds in military and civilian populations.

No abstract