A new objective evaluation method for PU cleansing using a rapid bacteria counting system

Objective: To assess a new rapid bacterial counting device for evaluating wound cleansing effectiveness based on dielectrophoretic impedance measurement. Method: Three patients with pressure ulcers with undermining were recruited, and pressure ulcer severity assessed using the DESIGN-R tool. The number of bacteria was measured using this new apparatus both before and after wound cleansing, performed by wound, ostomy, and continence nurses using a pH-balanced cleanser for periwound skin and with normal saline for the wound bed and undermining area. Results: The results showed that wound cleansing effectively reduced bacterial counts on the periwound skin, wound bed and undermined site, with a median number of bacteria of 3.6×10⁶ CFU/ml before cleansing, which decreased to 1.1×10⁶ CFU/ml after cleansing. Conclusion: This pilot study result suggests the usefulness of this new device for assessing the effectiveness of wound cleansing on reduction of bacterial number. Standardisation of wound cleansing technique may be achieved by hands-on education using this apparatus at bedside. Declaration of interest: This study was partly supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research A from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.