MARKER OF WOUND INFECTION

• US 20090299161A1
• Filed: 04/24/2006
• Published: 12/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Woundchek Laboratories (US), Inc.
• Original Assignee: Systagenix Wound Management (US), Inc.
• Inventors: Moseley, Ryan, Cullen, Breda Mary, Stephens, Philip, Clark, Rachael
• Granted Patent: US 8,491,852 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/345
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/26 involving oxidoreductase
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/523 the element being adapted for a specific analyte
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/528 Atypical element structures, e.g. gloves, rods, tampons, toilet paper
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/6893 related to diseases not provided for elsewhere

Abstract

An indicator device adapted give a detectable signal when the antioxidant capacity of a sample of a mammalian wound fluid exceeds a predetermined minimum level which is characteristic of an infected wound. Also provided system for use in the diagnosis and treatment of wounds comprising the inventive diagnostic device and a wound dressing comprising at least one antimicrobial agent for selective application to infected wounds. Also provided are methods of diagnosis and treatment by means of the inventive device and system.

Claims

1. An indicator device adapted to give a detectable signal when the antioxidant capacity of a sample of a mammalian wound fluid exceeds a predetermined minimum level which is characteristic of an infection.

2. An indicator device according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises a source of at least one reactive oxygen species and an indicator molecule that reacts with the reactive oxygen species to produce a detectable change.

3. An indicator device according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises a redox indicator molecule selected from the group consisting of Cytochrome C, 1, I0-phenanthroline iron salt, diphenylamine sulfonic acid, triphenylmethane dyes, starch-iodine, diphenylpicryihydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′

-azino-di-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline sulfonate) (ABTS).

4. An indicator device according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises an electrochemical sensor.

5. An indicator device according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises a wound dressing, dipstick or swab.

6. An indicator device according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises a housing containing one or more reagents and having an inlet provided therein for introduction of the sample.

7. An indicator device according to claim 6, which is a lateral flow diagnostic device.

8. An indicator device according to claim 1, wherein the device is adapted to detect at least one further analyte in addition to the total antioxidant capacity of the sample.

9. An indicator device according to claim 8, wherein the at least one further analyte comprises total protein content of the sample.

10. A system for use in the diagnosis and treatment of wounds comprising a diagnostic device according to claim 1, and a wound dressing comprising at least one antimicrobial agent

11. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a wound dressing that is substantially free from antimicrobial agents, for application to the wound when the measured total antioxidant capacity is indicative of a non-infected wound.

12. A method for the early detection and/or quantification of wound infection, comprising determining the total antioxidant capacity in a sample of wound fluid.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the method is an in vitro method that is performed on a sample of wound fluid that has been removed from the body.

14. A method for the treatment of a mammalian wound comprising the steps of measuring the total antioxidant capacity of a wound fluid collected from the wound, and applying an antimicrobial wound dressing to the wound selectively if the said total antioxidant capacity is indicative of wound infection.

15. A method according to claim 14, further comprising applying a wound dressing that is substantially free of antimicrobial agents to the wound if the said total antioxidant capacity is indicative of absence of wound infection.

16. A method according to claim 14, wherein the method comprises sampling the wound fluid at intervals, and selecting an antimicrobial or non-antimicrobial dressing to treat the wound at said intervals in response to the measured total antioxidant capacity.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein the antimicrobial wound dressing is applied to the wound if the total antioxidant activity is increasing over time, and the non-antimicrobial dressing is applied to the wound if the total antioxidant activity is stable.