ArticleDiagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)2020
Routine Fluorescence Imaging to Detect Wound Bacteria Reduces Antibiotic Use and Antimicrobial Dressing Expenditure While Improving Healing Rates: Retrospective Analysis of 229 Foot Ulcers.
Article in Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland), 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 27 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
27 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- The Clinical Utility of Autofluorescence Imaging for Bacterial Detection in Wounds: A Systematic Review.International wound journal · 2025Pooled it
- Guidelines for Point-of-Care Fluorescence Imaging for Detection of Wound Bacterial Burden Based on Delphi Consensus.Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2021Guideline
- Reliance on Clinical Signs and Symptoms Assessment Leads to Misuse of Antimicrobials:Advances in wound care · 2022Trial
- Use of Porphyrin Precursors as a Novel Approach for Detection ofInternational journal of molecular sciences · 2026Article
- A Scoping Review of Fluorescence Imaging: A Promising New Technology for Bacterial Detection in Burn Wounds.Journal of burn care & research : official publication of the American Burn Association · 2026Article
- Clinical and Economic Evidence Supporting the Value of Fluorescence Imaging of Bacteria in Wound Care.Journal of market access & health policy · 2025Review
- New Application for the Early Detection of Wound Infections Using a Near-Infrared Fluorescence Device and Forward-Looking Thermal Camera.Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Current and Future Directions in Fluorescence Imaging-Guided Debridement.Advances in wound care · 2025Review
- Nanocellulose Wound Dressings with Integrated Protease Sensors for Detection of Wound Pathogens.ACS sensors · 2025Article
- Workflow of Healthcare Professionals Utilizing Fluorescence Imaging for Detecting Wound Bacterial Infections.Cureus · 2025Article
- Advances in Natural-Product-Based Fluorescent Agents and Synthetic Analogues for Analytical and Biomedical Applications.Bioengineering (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Review
- Assessing Biofilm at the Bedside: Exploring Reliable Accessible Biofilm Detection Methods.Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Article
- Skin Pigmentation Impacts the Clinical Diagnosis of Wound Infection: Imaging of Bacterial Burden to Overcome Diagnostic Limitations.Journal of racial and ethnic health disparities · 2024Article
- Integrating Point-of-Care Bacterial Fluorescence Imaging-Guided Care with Continued Wound Measurement for Enhanced Wound Area Reduction Monitoring.Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Article
- Lights, fluorescence, action-Influencing wound treatment plans including debridement of bacteria and biofilms.International wound journal · 2023Article
- Point-of-care fluorescence imaging reveals extent of bacterial load in diabetic foot ulcers.International wound journal · 2023Article
- Antibiotic Misuse in Wound Care: Can Bacterial Localization through Fluorescence Imaging Help?Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Article
- Uncovering the high prevalence of bacterial burden in surgical site wounds with point-of-care fluorescence imaging.International wound journal · 2022Article
- Diagnosis and treatment of the invasive extension of bacteria (cellulitis) from chronic wounds utilising point-of-care fluorescence imaging.International wound journal · 2022Observational
- Point-of-Care Wound Blotting with Alcian Blue Grading versus Fluorescence Imaging for Biofilm Detection and Predicting 90-Day Healing Outcomes.Biomedicines · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
1 author.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Foot ulcers and their bacterial burden produce a significant strain on the National Healthcare System (NHS). Subjectivity of wound infection assessment makes appropriate dressing selection challenging. To aid point-of-care detection of bacterial burden, a fluorescence imaging device (MolecuLight i:X) was introduced to the Whipps Cross Hospital Podiatry clinic. This retrospective pre/post-analysis evaluated how implementation of fluorescence imaging impacted (1) antimicrobial dressings and antibiotics use and (2) wound healing rates. Over a 2-year period 229 lower extremity wounds were treated. Wound-related outcomes and antimicrobial dressing costs were quantified over 1-year before (2018/2019) and after (2019/2020) incorporating fluorescence imaging into routine practice. The period of fluorescence imaging saw a 27% increase in the number of wounds seen, yet annual antimicrobial dressing expenditure decreased by 33%. Implementation of fluorescence imaging was also associated with a 49% decrease in prescription of antimicrobial dressings, a 33% decrease in antibiotic prescriptions, and a 23% increase in wound healing rates within 12-weeks (48% vs. 39%), likely due to earlier bacterial detection and improved wound hygiene. This increased healing rate is projected to decrease annual wound costs by 10% (£762 per patient). Routine bacterial imaging appears to diminish clinical and economic burden to patients and the NHS.
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