Document Type

Article

Language

eng

Publication Date

6-1994

Publisher

American Physical Therapy Association

Source Publication

Journal of Clinical Electrophysiology

Source ISSN

0892-5070

Abstract

Currently, electrical stimulation is an accepted method used clinically to promote chronic wound healing. A literature review revealed that similar therapeutic current has been shown to suppress growth of common wound pathogens in vitro and in vivo. To date, little has been reported on the factors contributing to the antibacterial effects of microamperage direct current (μADC) stimulation. The purpose of this project was to investigate the role of electric field strength, current density, pH, and type of electrode used in vitro, to gain a better understanding of how these factors contribute to inhibiting growth of select wound pathogens. μADC was applied via silver electrodes at amplitudes ranging from 26 μA to 800 μA in an in vitro system consisting of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Results suggest that transmission of μADC by silver wire inhibits bacterial growth around the anode, and that the area of inhibition is directly proportional to the size of the electrode used. Current amplitude (as a function of electric field strength and current density) and pH did not seem to cause the antibacterial effects observed in this study.

Comments

Published version. Journal of Clinical Electrophysiology, Vol. 6, No. 1 (June 1994): 14-18. Publisher link. © 1994 American Physical Therapy Association. Used with permission.

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