Clinical and Economic Evidence Supporting the Value of Fluorescence Imaging of Bacteria in Wound Care.

Wound infection significantly hinders the healing process. Clinical signs and symptoms (CSS) of infection are used to assess the presence of infection and guide whether to intervene. However, CSS may not be dependable, lacking sensitivity and specificity, and may not accurately reflect bacterial load. The interpretation of CSS can be subjective and can vary between clinicians since they depend on patient characteristics, type of wound, and stage of infection. In addition, conditions such as peripheral vascular disease or diabetes can mask the signs and symptoms of infection. Inaccurate or late diagnosis of infected wounds can be costly to the patient and to healthcare systems. Fluorescence imaging (FLI) provides a safe, objective, highly sensitive approach to detect clinically significant bacterial levels in wounds. This information allows individualized treatment plans and a way to monitor bacterial burden and wound healing longitudinally. This publication reviews the evidence for point-of-care FLI as a means of improving wound identification with a high bacterial burden and the clinical and healthcare economic benefits of earlier and more accurate detection of bacteria.