Mariacristina Di Fiore Marianni
Smith & Nephew, Italy
Biography:
Mariacristina Di Fiore Marianni is currently working as a Clinical Specialist in Advanced Wound Management at Smith&Nephew – Italia
Abstract:
The traditional signs and symptoms of wound infection may often not be sufficient to properly guide clinical choices.
It is essential for operators to better manage the resources to be allocated to patients with skin lesions. An accurate assessment of the wound, in fact, leads to a more appropriate treatment that can accelerate wound closure, thus reducing both the economic costs for the NHS and for the patient.
To remedy these problems a novel handheld fluorescence imaging device has recently enabled real-time detection of bacteria in wounds based on their intrinsic fluorescence characteristics
The MolecuLight i: X imaging device is a handheld instrument consisting of a high-resolution color LCD display and from a touch screen with integrated optical and microelectronic components. MolecuLight i: X uses technology patented to allow imaging with standard and fluorescent lighting of bacteria and tissue components in wounds and in the surrounding healthy skin of patients. Moreover with Moleculight is possible to measure wound surface area at the point of care. MolecuLight i:X emits a precise wavelength of safe violet light, which causes bacteria ≥ 104 CFU/g to fluoresce.
The MolecuLight i:X instantly visualizes the presence of potentially harmful levels of bacteria through endogenous autofluorescence without the need for contrast agents or contact with the patient. The intended use of the device is to assist health care professionals during the management of patients with wounds by enabling real-time visualization of potentially harmful bacteria. The device is intended to be used as part of routine clinical wound assessment processes which may include examination for characteristic signs and symptoms of infection. Under violet light illumination, the MolecuLight i:X can capture and document images or videos of wounds and surrounding areas where fluorescent bacteria may be present. The bacterial fluorescence signals detected by the device provide health care professionals with a visual indication of bacterial presence, load, and location within and around wounds. This information can be used to guide health care professionals in their selection, application, and response monitoring of wound therapies.
The indication for use of the device is to instantly visualize the presence of potentially harmful bacteria commonly found within or around wounds including S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, E. coli, Coagulase-negative staphylococci, Enterococcus spp, Proteus spp, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Beta-hemolytic streptococci (Group B) and Enterobacter spp during clinical assessment, treatment, and monitoring of treatment response of wounds.
Inserting the Moleculight in a standard care pathway helps the clinician detect the presence of bacteria by fluorescence, facilitates the taking of evidence-based decisions and has been shown to lead to:
- Better clinical results;
- Most effective sampling;
- Greater savings;
- Reduction of ineffective treatments;
- Reduction in the use of unnecessary drugs