ABSTRACT
Fournier's Gangrene (FG) is an
infectious disease caused by several synergic microbes, with high
morbidity and
mortality rates; therefore, the search for new less invasive and mutilating
treatments, with faster recovery, has been proposed. Surgical intervention, the use of several systemic and topic
antibiotics, and
hyperbaric oxygen therapy are currently the best approach for the
treatment of these
patients. The use of Photodynamic Inactivation (PDI) aims to lower
morbidity and
mortality, by reducing bacterial
microbiota and
speeding wound healing. In the present study, viable
bacteria were
separated in four groups Group L-/F- (no irradiation with red
laser and absence of
methylene blue photosensitizer), Group L-/F+ (no irradiation with red
laser and presence of
methylene blue), Group L+/F- (irradiation with red
laser and absence of
methylene blue) and L+/F+ (irradiation with red
laser associated to
methylene blue). In all groups,
exposure time to
treatment was 5, 10 and 15 minutes. The concentration of
methylene blue photosensitizer was 0.1mg/L, and the
dose of red
laser (660nm
wave length) was 176.9mW/cm2. Following irradiation, the reduction of number of
bacteria was evaluated, and the results were expressed in
colony forming units (CFU) and as exponential reduction. As the main results, in the L+/F+ group, there were no
Clostridium perfringens and
Staphylococcus aureus CFUs and there was a reduction of
Escherichia coli that was not observed in the other groups.