Infected chronic ischemic wound topically treated with a multi-strain probiotic formulation: a novel tailored treatment strategy

Abstract Background: A wide debate is ongoing regarding the role of cutaneous dysbiosis in the pathogenesis and evolution of difficult-to-treat chronic wounds. Nowadays, probiotic treatment considered as an useful tool to counteract dysbio- sis but the evidence in regard to their therapeutic use in the setting of difficult-to-treat cutaneous ulcers is still poor. Aim: clinical report: An 83-year-old woman suffering a critical limb ischemia and an infected difficult-to-treat ulcer- ated cutaneous lesion of the right leg, was complementary treated with local application of a mixture of probiotic bacteria. Methods: Microbiological and metabolomic analysis were conducted on wound swabs obtained before and after bacteriotherapy. Results: During the treatment course, a progressive healing of the lesion was observed with microbiological resolution of the polymicrobial infection of the wound. Metabolomic analysis showed a significant difference in the local concentration of propionate, 2-hydroxyisovalerate, 2-oxoisocaproate, 2,3-butanediol, putrescine, thymine, and trimethylamine before and after bacteriotherapy. Conclusion: The microbiological and metabolomic results seem to confirm the usefulness of complementary pro- biotic treatment in difficult-to-treat infected wounds. Further investigations are needed to confirm these preliminary findings.