Exploring the Potential of Alcaligenes faecalis in Accelerating Healing of Chronic Diabetic Wounds
As most people living with diabetes are well aware, the disease can lead to several related health complications, from cardiovascular disease to kidney disease. However, one of the less talked about but more common impacts diabetes can have on general health is how it affects the body’s ability to heal everyday wounds.
Diabetes, particularly the Type 2 form of the disease, has been known to slow the healing process, which is a big problem for those living with the disease because it significantly increases the risk of infection. Being that the immune system of diabetics is often already compromised, the fear of bacteria entering a wound and spreading is a logical one.
So imagine the surprise of researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine when they discovered a bacterium that might speed the healing of chronic open wounds in those with diabetes. It may sound counterintuitive, but it’s true, and this discovery might open new doors to diabetes care and treatment.
Why Chronic Wounds Are Dangerous
Chronic wounds are simply wounds that refuse to heal correctly or promptly. Because these wounds remain open, they are highly susceptible to infection and other complications.
People with diabetes are particularly prone to chronic wounds for many reasons. One, elevated blood sugar associated with poorly managed diabetes can constrict blood vessels, thereby reducing blood flow to the wound site and preventing oxygen and immune cells from getting there and doing their job to heal the injury.
Second, many patients with Type 2 diabetes also suffer from diabetic neuropathy, nerve damage that reduces sensation in the feet and extremities, making it difficult to “feel” a cut or blister as they happen. Because these wounds go unnoticed, they also often go untreated, increasing the risk of infection.
Finally, high blood sugar can also weaken the body’s general immune system, inhibiting the body’s natural ability to both heal and ward off infection.
Chronic wounds in people with diabetes often come in the form of sores, foot ulcers, blisters, and lacerations. These wounds can become debilitating if not adequately treated, and yet, there have been very few developments in the treatment of diabetic wounds over recent years.
Enter Alcaligenes Faecalis (a.k.a. A. Faecalis)
Because people with diabetes are so prone to infection, one of the critical drivers of proper wound care has been preventing bacteria from entering the wound. For the most part, this still stands, and those with diabetes should take special care to clean and dress any wound, no matter how minor it may seem.
However, researchers at Penn Medicine recently discovered an outlier – a bacterium that boosts the healing of diabetic wounds. This bug, called Alcaligenes faecalis (A. faecalis), was found to promote skin cell movements essential for wound closure, specifically among those with diabetes.
A. faecalis speeds healing by activating T cells, vital in the immune system’s defense against bacteria, and by inhibiting certain enzymes called matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) that are overproduced in people with diabetes. This overproduction has been directly linked to slowing the body’s natural wound-healing process.
If you think this sounds surprising, you’re not alone. That’s precisely how researchers felt.
“This research builds heavily on our previous research where we profiled the bacteria found in diabetic foot ulcers over time and studied how these bacteria influence healing outcomes, “said Dr. Elizabeth Grice, PhD, one of the study's authors. “We did not expect to find that a bacterium could promote healing, but this surprising finding motivated further studies of A. faecalis.
What Does This Mean For Wound Care?
The new findings were not only surprising, but they also may open entirely new avenues to treating chronic diabetic wounds. The research presents new possibilities for science to explore potential therapeutic care options beyond the traditional prevention of bacteria and treatment of infection. By examining the interactions of bacterium, such as A. faecalis, as they relate to the healing process, science could develop new options for bacterial-based diabetic wound care (as strange as that may sound!)
“Bacterial-based wound therapies are an exciting new frontier,” added Dr. Grice. “There are many ways to take advantage of our findings and future work on the wound microbiome. It may be possible to isolate the pro-healing molecules secreted by A. faecalis or target the pathways downstream of the bacteria’s effects. The better we understand the whole process, the more likely we can ultimately translate our findings to help patients with wound and skin repair problems.”
More research must be done before any bacterial-based treatments are made available to heal diabetic wounds. However, the eye-opening findings published by these researchers are clear evidence that the potential exists and that chronic wound care may look quite different for those living with diabetes in the future.
FAQs
- What are chronic diabetic wounds?
- Chronic wounds are those that take longer than usual to heal. People living with diabetes are more prone to chronic wounds because the disease and the elevated blood sugar associated with it can weaken the body’s immune system and impede circulation, which is vital for proper wound healing.
- What are the most common chronic wounds?
- For people living with diabetes, chronic wounds are often found on the feet. They might come in sores, blisters, ulcers, or lacerations that go unnoticed due to diabetic neuropathy nerve damage that can diminish sensitivity in the extremities. If you are living with diabetes, mainly if you are overweight or obese, it is essential to check your feet regularly for cuts and sores. If you find them, clean and dress the area and watch for signs of infection.
- How does A. faecalis help with wound healing?
- This bacterium has been found to activate T cells, which is necessary for proper immune function. It also inhibits the production of certain enzymes (MMPs) that tend to be overproduced in people with diabetes. These enzymes have been shown to slow the healing process, so curbing their production helps speed wound healing.
- Why are chronic wounds dangerous?
- Because these wounds are slow to heal and, in some cases, will not heal, they are more prone to bacterial infection. This is particularly true among those with diabetes who may already have a compromised immune system. If you have diabetes and experience a wound, clean it under running water and cover it with a sterile dressing. Contact your doctor immediately if you notice any signs of infection – redness, swelling, oozing, or a yellow substance (puss).
Are you a person with diabetes or a caregiver with any insights into diabetic wound care that might help our readers? Please share them in the comments below. Thank you.
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