The DOI matches its Crossref record; 42 of the 43 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Bacteria and wound healing
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Wound healing is a complex process with many potential factors that can delay healing. There is increasing interest in the effects of bacteria on the processes of wound healing. All chronic wounds are colonized by bacteria, with low levels of bacteria being beneficial to the wound healing process. Wound infection is detrimental to wound healing, but the diagnosis and management of wound infection is controversial, and varies between clinicians. RECENT FINDINGS: There is increasing recognition of the concept of critical colonization or local infection, when wound healing may be delayed in the absence of the typical clinical features of infection. The progression from wound colonization to infection depends not only on the bacterial count or the species present, but also on the host immune response, the number of different species present, the virulence of the organisms and synergistic interactions between the different species. There is increasing evidence that bacteria within chronic wounds live within biofilm communities, in which the bacteria are protected from host defences and develop resistance to antibiotic treatment. SUMMARY: An appreciation of the factors affecting the progression from colonization to infection can help clinicians with the interpretation of clinical findings and microbiological investigations in patients with chronic wounds. An understanding of the physiology and interactions within multi-species biofilms may aid the development of more effective methods of treating infected and poorly healing wounds. The emergence of consensus guidelines has helped to optimize clinical management.
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In the citing paper
“Non-healing wounds are often complicated with bacterial infection, which sustains a continuous influx of neutrophils and macrophages and further delays wound repair [249].”
From Transition from inflammation to proliferation: a critical step during wound healing (2016) · cites this paper as [249]
In the citing paper
“Sub-infective levels of bacteria have been shown to enhance the infiltration and function of neutrophils and monocytes/macrophages, increase granulation tissue formation and angiogenesis, as a consequence, accelerating wound healing [249].”
From Transition from inflammation to proliferation: a critical step during wound healing (2016) · cites this paper as [249]
In the citing paper
“The transition from colonization to invasive wound infection is determined by the amount, the virulence and pathogenicity of the bacteria as well as by the ability of the host to mount an effective immune defense [249].”
From Transition from inflammation to proliferation: a critical step during wound healing (2016) · cites this paper as [249]
In the citing paper
“They all have pathological inflammation, ongoing infection, hypoxia, and defective cellular response. The chronicity of these injuries offers a very good setting for microbial colonization and infection, further promoting tissue destruction and prolonging healing (Edwards and Harding 2004).”
From Nutritional Immunity in Wound Infection: Unveiling the Role of Dietary Elements in Host–Pathogen Interaction (2025) · cites this paper as Edwards and Harding 2004
In the citing paper
“Prolonged inflammation leads to increased levels of proteases that degrade extracellular matrix (ECM) and growth factors.21,22”
From The Innate Immune System in Acute and Chronic Wounds (2016) · cites this paper as [21]
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Metadata
- Authors
- Edwards, R., & Harding, K. G.
- Affiliations
- Cardiff University (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Edwards, Ruth
- ORCID
- Harding, Keith G
- Venue
- Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases
- Published
- 2004-04
- Volume
- 17
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 91-96
- ISSN
- 0951-7375 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2048602281
- Cited by
- 1,099
- References
- 43
- Citations by year
- 2026: 31 · 2025: 57 · 2024: 76 · 2023: 78 · 2022: 90 · 2021: 98 · 2020: 83 · 2019: 66 · 2018: 58 · 2017: 54 · 2016: 55 · 2015: 51 · 2014: 46 · 2013: 54 · 2012: 50
- FWCI
- 3.64
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Wound Healing and Treatments
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Bacterial biofilms and quorum sensing
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Surgical site infection prevention
- Keywords
- wound healing, chronic wounds, wound infection, bacterial colonization, local infection, biofilm, antibiotic resistance, host immune response, bacterial virulence, delayed wound healing
- MeSH terms
- Bacteria, Chronic Disease, Humans, Wound Healing, Wound Infection, Skin Diseases, Bacterial, Biofilms
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