Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

The visualization of biofilms in chronic diabetic foot wounds using routine diagnostic microscopy methods

Oates, Angela; Bowling, Frank L.; Boulton, Andrew J. M.; Bowler, Philip G.; Metcalf, Daniel G.; McBain, Andrew J.

Authors

Angela Oates

Frank L. Bowling

Andrew J. M. Boulton

Philip G. Bowler

Daniel G. Metcalf

Andrew J. McBain



Abstract

Diabetic foot wounds are commonly colonised by taxonomically diverse microbial communities and may additionally be infected with specific pathogens. Since biofilms are demonstrably less susceptible to antimicrobial agents than are planktonic bacteria, and may be present in chronic wounds, there is increasing interest in their aetiological role. In the current investigation, the presence of structured microbial assemblages in chronic diabetic foot wounds is demonstrated using several visualization methods. Debridement samples, collected from the foot wounds of diabetic patients, were histologically sectioned and examined using bright-field, fluorescence, and environmental scanning electron microscopy and assessed by quantitative differential viable counting. All samples (n = 26) harboured bioburdens in excess of 5 log10 CFU/g. Microcolonies were identified in 4/4 samples by all three microscopy methods, although bright-field and fluorescence microscopy were more effective at highlighting putative biofilm morphology than ESEM. Results in this pilot study indicate that bacterial microcolonies and putative biofilm matrix can be visualized in chronic wounds using florescence microscopy and ESEM, but also using the simple Gram stain.

Citation

Oates, A., Bowling, F. L., Boulton, A. J. M., Bowler, P. G., Metcalf, D. G., & McBain, A. J. (2014). The visualization of biofilms in chronic diabetic foot wounds using routine diagnostic microscopy methods. Journal of Diabetes Research, 2014, Article 153586. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/153586

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Feb 14, 2014
Online Publication Date Apr 15, 2014
Publication Date 2014
Deposit Date Jan 15, 2019
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Journal of Diabetes Research
Print ISSN 2314-6745
Electronic ISSN 2314-6753
Publisher Hindawi
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 2014
Article Number 153586
DOI https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/153586
Public URL https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/1215828
Publisher URL https://www.hindawi.com/journals/jdr/2014/153586/

Files

Published article (5.1 Mb)
PDF

Copyright Statement
Copyright © 2014 Angela Oates et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.





You might also like



Downloadable Citations