Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42144819›Full record

SynthesisInternational wound journal2026

Clinical Signs and Symptoms of Biofilm-Associated Infection in Chronic Wounds: A Systematic Review of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies.

Borja González-Suárez, Pablo López-Casanova, Hector González-de la Torre, Iván Durán-Saenz, Ana García-Rubio, José Verdú-Soriano, Miriam Berenguer-Pérez

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in International wound journal, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Borja González-SuárezAdvanced Wound Care Trainer Specialist Spain, Convatec, Spain.
Pablo López-CasanovaWINTER: Wounds, Innovation, ThErapeutics and Research Group, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain.
Hector González-de la TorreWINTER: Wounds, Innovation, ThErapeutics and Research Group, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1774-4260
Iván Durán-SaenzWINTER: Wounds, Innovation, ThErapeutics and Research Group, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain.
Ana García-RubioWINTER: Wounds, Innovation, ThErapeutics and Research Group, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain.
José Verdú-SorianoWINTER: Wounds, Innovation, ThErapeutics and Research Group, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8307-7323
Miriam Berenguer-PérezWINTER: Wounds, Innovation, ThErapeutics and Research Group, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The presence of biofilm in chronic wounds represents a major diagnostic challenge, as clinical manifestations are often subtle and laboratory confirmation remains limited. To identify clinical signs and symptoms (CSS) evaluated in validated tools or scales related to wound infection and biofilm, and to assess their diagnostic accuracy. A systematic review of diagnostic accuracy studies was conducted in accordance with PRISMA-DTA guidelines, searching six databases from inception to May 2025. Of 2064 records identified, four studies met inclusion criteria. All were focused on infection-related CSS; none were specifically designed to diagnose biofilm. Sensitivity and specificity varied substantially across CSS and study designs, and no validated, non-invasive diagnostic scale for biofilm was identified. The available evidence base is limited and heterogeneous. A preliminary list of candidate CSS is proposed to guide future validation studies and support earlier clinical recognition of biofilm-associated infection.

Indexed as

BiofilmsWound InfectionWounds and InjuriesChronic DiseaseHumansSensitivity and Specificitybiofilmchronic woundsclinical signsdiagnostic accuracyinfectionsystematic review

Identifiers

PMID42144819
PMCPMC13181149

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.