Superoxidized Solution Treats Diabetic Foot Ulcers

A novel superoxidized solution used in a wound dressing (together with other local and systemic therapies) may have a role in reducing healing time as well as complications in patients with diabetes who have post-surgical lesions of the diabetic foot.

Researchers at the University of Pisa (Italy) used an experimental study design comparing 33 patients with diabetes who had wide post-surgical infected diabetic foot ulcers, without ischemia. Eighteen patients were treated with Dermacyn Wound Care (DWC), while a 15-patient historical control group was treated with diluted povidone iodine. All patients were treated with standard-of-care including antibiotic therapy and local surgical debridement. Patients received weekly assessment. At baseline, there were no significant differences between the two groups in the number of minor amputations and in the number of revascularizations.

The results showed that patients in the Dermacyn group had statistically significant shorter healing time and duration of antibiotic therapy and a higher healing rate at six months compared with those in the povidone group. Recurrence of infection, requirement for debridement procedures, and requirement for minor amputations were significantly less frequent during follow-up in the Dermacyn group when compared with those in the povidone group. The results were published in the March 2007 issue of the International Journal of Lower Extremity Wounds.

"These preliminary data suggest that DWC used as a wound dressing together with other local and systemic therapies may have a role in reducing healing time as well as complications in patients with diabetes who have postsurgical lesions of the diabetic foot,” concluded lead author Dr. Chiara Goretti, M.D., and colleagues of the Diabetic Foot Section.

DWC is under development by Oculus Innovative Sciences (Petaluma, CA, USA). The company is in the process of initiating a Phase II clinical trial of Dermacyn in diabetic foot ulcer infections.



Related Links:
University of Pisa
Oculus Innovative Sciences