Analysis of bacteria, inflammation, and exudation in epidermal suction blister wounds reveals dynamic changes during wound healing

Abstract

The skin microbiome undergoes dynamic changes during different phases of wound healing, however the role of bacteria in the wound healing process remains poorly described. In this study, we aimed to determine how wound bacteria develop over time in epidermal wounds, and how they interact with inflammatory processes during wound healing. To this end, we analyzed wound fluid and swab samples collected from epidermal suction blister wounds in healthy volunteers. We found that bacterial numbers, measured in swabs and dressing fluid, increased rapidly after wounding and stabilized by day 8. The composition of bacterial species identified by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry differed between wounds, but generally consisted primarily of commensal bacteria and remained largely stable over time. Inflammation and neutrophil activity, measured by quantification of cytokines and neutrophil proteins in dressing fluid, peaked on day 5. Exudation, measured by quantification of protein content in dressings, also peaked at this time and strongly correlated with cytokine and neutrophil protein levels. Inflammation, neutrophil activity, and exudation were not correlated with bacterial counts at any time, indicating that in normally healing wounds, these processes are primarily driven by the host and are independent of colonizing bacteria. Our analysis provides a comprehensive understanding of epidermal wound healing dynamics in the host and the role of the microbiome in healthy wound healing.