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Porcine Infected Partial-Thickness Burn Wound Model
Schusterman MA, Kim D, Grybowski D, James IB, Satish L, Gallo P, Marra KG, Rubin JP
University of Pittsburgh
2017-02-15
Presenter: Mark Schusterman
Affidavit:
This is original work.
Director Name: Vu T Nguyen
Author Category: Resident Plastic Surgery
Presentation Category: Basic Science Research
Abstract Category: General Reconstruction
BACKGROUND: Partial-thickness burns are a common source of trauma worldwide and often become infected. We developed a porcine infected partial-thickness burn model to eventually test a novel polysaccharide compound for its ability to treat infected burn wounds.
METHODS: 16 burn wounds were created on the back of a female Yorkshire pig using a brand heated to 200oC and applied with 1kg of force for 40s, 10s, 5s, or 2s (n=4 per group). Biopsies were taken 30 minutes after burning for histology, and wound healing was observed for 14 days using photographs and tracings. 24 burn wounds at 10s were created on the back of a second female Yorkshire pig and received either no treatment, scraping with MRSA, or injection of MRSA (n=8 per group). Biopsies were taken at each dressing change for culture. Both pigs were sacrificed 15 days after surgery.
RESULTS: 40s burns were full-thickness while burns at all other times were partial-thickness at varying depths. Burns for 2s and 5s were superficial partial-thickness and healed by day 14, while 10s were moderate-to-deep partial-thickness and still healing at day 14. In the second pig, burning for 10s again gave moderate partial-thickness burns and all wounds were infected by post-operative day four. Cultures revealed a poly-microbial infection with likely MRSA and Pseudomonas and wounds were still healing at day 14.
CONCLUSION: Applying our brand for 10s provides a reliable partial-thickness burn and scraping MRSA can cause an infection of this burn but is difficult to control when applying in solution.
