We can heal that (continued)
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MSU's findings
Researchers at MSU are working hard to provide the evidence needed
to convince scientists and physicians of the biofilm-chronic wound
connection.
"Randy's successes indicate that at least we're having an
important impact for some patients," MSU's Garth James said. "But
it's anecdotal. To find convincing evidence in a scientific manner
is slower and more frustrating." |
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Dr. Garth James and Pat Secor |
Some of that work is carried out in a windowless lab on
the third floor of MSU's Engineering and Physical Sciences Building
where doctoral candidate Pat Secor snaps on a pair of latex gloves and
handles four bullet-shaped vials. Into each vial he puts an exact amount
of fluid using a needle-nosed pipette. On the counter is a slightly
battered black notebook.
"That's pretty much my whole life right there," said Secor, a Bozeman
native whose cellular biology thesis is on the biofilm-chronic wound
connection.
The book contains months of handwritten notes Secor has made as he has
investigated what bacteria live in wound tissue samples from Wolcott's
patients. The evidence is compelling for a biofilm-chronic wound link:
60 percent of chronic wound tissue samples contain biofilms, compared to
only 6 percent of acute wounds from the same patient group. An acute
wound is one that heals in a normal time span, instead of the months or
years it takes a chronic wound to heal.
Additionally, chronic wounds appear to harbor complex ecosystems of
bacteria. To date, the center has found 34 aerobic bacteria (those that
thrive with oxygen) living in chronic wounds and 11 anaerobic bacteria
(those that thrive without oxygen).
"The number changes every week," James said. "The more we look, the more
we find."
The anaerobic bacteria are of particular interest because they've been
mostly overlooked.
"These are very hard bacteria to find," James said. "They're very hard
to grow in a culture, and even when you're successful in growing them it
can take weeks. Clinics order anaerobic cultures all the time and find
nothing. But we find them when we use DNA analysis."
The center published its findings in the October issue of Wound
Repair and Regeneration, an important step in convincing the science
community of biofilms' importance in chronic wounds. But there is still
much to be done.
"We know they're there," James said. "But the million-dollar question is
how do these biofilms delay wound healing?"
Secor's work is methodical, repetitive, quiet and precise. But he's been
to Wolcott's clinic. He's met patients with holes in their feet and
legs, lurid red, bleeding and oozing wounds they endure for months,
sometimes years.
"Getting to see the patients one-on-one gave me motivation," Secor said.
"I see it as a problem with a person rather than just a plastic tube I
mail off for DNA sequencing."
A whole man
The fruits of this science can be seen in the story of Jerry Montemayor,
a 38-year-old school administrator in Lubbock, who stubbed his toe on
the corner of his bed one morning in December 2005 and nearly lost his
foot.
Initially, Montemayor ignored the bruise. A diabetic, Montemayor has
poor blood circulation in his lower legs and feet. Three days later, his
toe was discolored and he limped with discomfort. He went to an
emergency room.
Emergency room physicians told Montemayor his foot was severely infected
and he must be admitted. He spent the next 12 days in the hospital. When
his infection didn't respond to treatment, Montemayor's physicians told
him his foot should be amputated, or he risked losing his entire leg and
possibly his life.
"First they said it would be the top of my foot, then half of my foot,
then my whole foot," Montemayor said. "They kept telling me I needed to
set a date and time for my amputation. Believe me, if it wasn't for the
power of prayer I don't think I'd have gotten through this."
Montemayor sought a second opinion. The next day, two staff members from
Wolcott's center visited.
"I'll never forget that visit," Montemayor said. "One of the girls said
'We've seen worse. We suggest you do not get this amputated. We can
treat this.'"
It was Christmas Eve.
Montemayor took their advice and began nearly a year's worth of
treatments at Wolcott's clinic on Christmas Day. Today, he walks on both
feet.
"The clinic staff said they were going to do their best and they did,"
Montemayor said. "I'm blessed to be walking."
"It's hard to relive that experience in the hospital," he said. "At the
time I was thinking about my personal life. I was thinking how this
would affect me meeting someone, or having a relationship with someone.
Is she going to accept and support me? Is she going to be able to walk
next to me and accept that I have a prosthetic limb?
"I was thinking 'If I have kids will I be able to run and play with
them?'" Montemayor said. "I was thinking 'Am I going to be a whole
man?'"
______________________
For more information on We can heal that, check out Mountain & Minds'
 Web
Exclusives.
Learn more about the Dr. Randy Wolcott's clinic at
www.woundcarecenter.net
Learn more about
Chronic Wound Research at Montana State University's Center for
Biofilm Engineering
Learn more about biofilms in
Medical and Healthcare Applications at Montana State University's
Center for Biofilm Engineering
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