Using such approaches, the objectives of this study were to 1) define the longâterm temporal microbial community dynamics of open fracture wounds and 2) examine microbial community dynamics with respect to clinical and demographic factors.
Fiftyâtwo subjects with traumatic open fracture wounds (32 blunt and 20 penetrating injuries) were enrolled prospectively and sampled longitudinally from presentation to the emergency department and at each subsequent inpatient or outpatient encounter.
Specimens were collected from both the wound center and adjacent skin.
Cultureâindependent sequencing of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene was employed to identify and characterize microbiota.
Upon presentation to the emergency department and time points immediately following, sample collection site (wound or adjacent skin) was the most defining feature discriminating microbial profiles.
Microbial composition of adjacent skin and wound center converged over time. Mechanism of injury most strongly defined the microbiota after initial convergence.
Further analysis controlling for race, gender, and age revealed that mechanism of injury remained a significant discriminating feature throughout the continuum of care.
We conclude that the microbial communities associated with open fracture wounds are dynamic in nature until eventual convergence with the adjacent skin community during healing, with mechanism of injury as an important feature affecting both diversity and composition of the microbiota.
A more complete understanding of the factors influencing microbial contamination and/or colonization in open fractures is a critical foundation for identifying markers indicative of outcome and deciphering their respective contributions to healing and/or complication.
Source: Casey BartowâMcKenney BA Geoffrey D. Hannigan PhD Joseph Horwinski BS Patrick Hesketh BS Annamarie D. Horan PhD Samir Mehta MD Elizabeth A. Grice PhD, The microbiota of traumatic, open fracture wounds is associated with mechanism of injury. WRR, Early View.
First published: 26 May 2018 https://doi.org/10.1111/wrr.12642
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