Study on the Effectiveness of Hypothermal Sulphurous Water in Wound Hygiene

NCT ID: NCT06725797

Last Updated: 2024-12-10

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

ENROLLING_BY_INVITATION

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

30 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2024-10-20

Study Completion Date

2024-12-30

Brief Summary

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This is an interventional double arms pilot study on the effectiveness of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) rich and microbiologically pure spa sulphurous water, in the wound hygiene of hard-to heal wounds, set in an italian spa facility. At least 24 subjects enrolled according to selection criteria will be 1:1 randomized in two intervention groups: the former (A) undergoing pack of sulphurous water on soaked gauzes for 20 minutes, the latter (B) undergoing full limb immersion for 20 minutes. Differences among the two arms will be assessed as changes in wound microbiome, wound pH, Trans epidermal water loss (TEWL), 1000x ex-vivo microscope imaging, wound fluorescence imaging for bacterial colonization and longitudinal shifts in wound sizing and peculiar features according to the Bates-Jensen Wound Assessment Tool (BWAT). Time required for re-epithelization will be recorded together with any adverse reactions or events for both arms and compared. The study aims at assessing the effectiveness of hydrogen sulfide exogenous supply on infected or colonized hard to heal wounds and which way of administration (pack Vs immersion) could have prevailing effects.

Detailed Description

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The effectiveness of sulphurous thermal waters in the treatment of complex or difficult wounds has been known since ancient times.

In recent years, the increase in life expectancy, the aging of the population and survival of chronically ill subjects lead to the outbreak of "hard to heal" wounds presenting multi drug resistant germs (MDR). Recent studies have shown that the effectiveness of thermal waters is not only related to the presence of dissolved ions but, as in the case of sulphurous ones, to the presence of hydrogen sulfide, a gas transmitter that diffuses freely through the skin, eliciting local and systemic effects. This molecule, present in sulphurous waters within specific pH and temperature ranges, is able to promote the healing of acute, chronic and infected wounds. H2S also exerts a powerful antibacterial and antifungal effect by transforming into pentationic acid (H2S5O6). In addition, the specific microbiome of each thermal source has the ability to interact with the skin microbiome and prevails over wound biofilm stimulating skin eubiosis. By virtue of these considerations, investigators perform an interventional pilot trial conducted to evaluate the effects of raw sulphurous thermal water, microbiologically pure, in the wound hygiene of acute and chronic wounds, regardless of their aetiology and bacterial colonization.

Outpatients \>18 years, presenting at spa facility with wound respecting selection criteria, will undergo to a wound hygiene protocol based on the use of raw sulphurous thermal water of Acque Albule, tested negative to microbiological analysis for the presence of pathogens. Subjects will be 1:1 randomized in 2 treatment arms: group A receiving sulphurous thermal water pack on soaked gauzes for 20 minutes and group B having their wound/s fully immersed in sulphurous thermal water for 20 minutes. Both arms will be treated every 48 hours up to complete wound re-epithelization. Participants will be submitted just at enrollment to wound microbiological sampling (swab). All parameters worth investigating will be assessed at each session prior to intervention (T0,2,4..) and after (T1,3,5…). Specifically wound microbiome sampling, together with pH, trans epidermal water loss (TEWL) measurements, wound fluorescence bacterial imaging, and ex-vivo microscope imaging will be recorded at each time point. Any adverse events, superinfections will be monitored and properly managed. A three months post-healing follow-up (Tf) will be performed to determine scar quality and possible wound relapse. Results will be expressed in term of intra-session (short term effects) and inter sessions(longitudinal effects) changes (delta) in order to assess the singular and the whole effects of each arm intervention. Finally differences in term of effectiveness among the two interventions will be evaluated.

Conditions

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Ulcers Wound - in Medical Care Wounds and Injuries Wound Healing Wound Care Venous Ulcers Wound Cleansing

Keywords

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wound hygiene chronic wound sulfurous water spa thermal water wound care

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

The study is an interventional pilot trial assessing the efficacy of hypothermal sulphurous thermal water (STW) in the wound hygiene of patients affected by hard to heal, chronic, infected wounds. The eligible subjects will be 1:1 randomized in two arms and treated with pure sulfurous spa water, already authorized for medical drinking therapy, on soaked gauzes (GROUP A) or for full limb immersion (GROUP B) for 20 minutes. Ph, Trans epidermal water loss (TEWL), healing rate (Bates-Jensen Wound Assessment Tool) wound fluorescence imaging for bacterial colonization and wound microbiome will be tested at 3 timepoints: T0 (prior treatment), T1 (just after treatment) , Tf (complete wound re-epithelization).
Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Outcome Assessors
Microbiological and microbiome assessors are blinded to subjects' treatment or arm randomization list.

Epidemiological and statistic assessors are blinded to arm randomization list as well.

Study Groups

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GROUP A:wound hygiene with spa thermal sulphurous water delivered with pack on soaked gauzes

non woven gauzes will be soaked with sulphurous thermal water and positioned on the wound as packs for 20 minutes, at spring temperature (23°C).

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

wound hygiene with hypothermal sulfurous water by packs

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

GROUP A: After dressing removal, the wound is exposed. Sulphur thermal water at spring temperature (23°C) is applied for 20 minutes on the untreated wound by packs on non woven gauzes entirely covering the area. Eventually, if dried, gauzes are externally watered with additional sulphurous thermal water during the 20 minutes. After water application the wound follows the other 3 steps of the wound hygiene protocol: non viable tissue removal, edges reactivation and dressing. Non interactive dressings, just for wound moisture management, are used on cleaned wound/s. Dressing fixation, elastic bandages or off-load will be provided when required. the intervention will be repeated every 48 hours for both arms.

GROUP B: limb full immersion in spa thermal sulphurous water

full wound immersion: the limb hosting the wound is located in a limb-sized tube filled with sulphurous water for 20 minutes at spring temperature (23°C).

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

wound hygiene with hypothermal sulfurous water by limb full immersion

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

GROUP B: After dressing removal, the wound is exposed. Sulphur thermal water at spring temperature (23°C) is applied for 20 minutes on the untreated wound by limb full immersion in a limb tub. After the immersion, the wound follows the other 3 steps of the wound hygiene protocol: non viable tissue removal, edges reactivation and dressing. Non interactive dressings, just for wound moisture management, are used on cleaned wound/s. Dressing fixation, elastic bandages or off-load will be provided when required. the intervention will be repeated every 48 hours for both arms.

Interventions

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wound hygiene with hypothermal sulfurous water by packs

GROUP A: After dressing removal, the wound is exposed. Sulphur thermal water at spring temperature (23°C) is applied for 20 minutes on the untreated wound by packs on non woven gauzes entirely covering the area. Eventually, if dried, gauzes are externally watered with additional sulphurous thermal water during the 20 minutes. After water application the wound follows the other 3 steps of the wound hygiene protocol: non viable tissue removal, edges reactivation and dressing. Non interactive dressings, just for wound moisture management, are used on cleaned wound/s. Dressing fixation, elastic bandages or off-load will be provided when required. the intervention will be repeated every 48 hours for both arms.

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

wound hygiene with hypothermal sulfurous water by limb full immersion

GROUP B: After dressing removal, the wound is exposed. Sulphur thermal water at spring temperature (23°C) is applied for 20 minutes on the untreated wound by limb full immersion in a limb tub. After the immersion, the wound follows the other 3 steps of the wound hygiene protocol: non viable tissue removal, edges reactivation and dressing. Non interactive dressings, just for wound moisture management, are used on cleaned wound/s. Dressing fixation, elastic bandages or off-load will be provided when required. the intervention will be repeated every 48 hours for both arms.

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Other Intervention Names

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wound hygiene by packs wound hygiene by limb full immersion

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Patients \>18 years old
* Any comorbidities (except very severe I, II immune deficiencies)
* Any systemic drug therapy
* Any associated dressing (except peroxides)
* Acute or chronic wounds requiring wound care treatment
* Genital/oral wounds
* Infected wounds, including MDR pathogens
* Biofilmed wounds

Exclusion Criteria

* Unexplored fistula
* Enteric fistula
* Exposure of fascia, vessels, bones, organs
* Pyoderma Gangrenosum (monotherapy)
* Implanted or penetrating devices (CVC , Port-a-cath, drainages, peritoneal dialysis, external fixators....etc.)
* Exposed implants(nails, plates, internal defibrillator, Pace maker)
* Local antibiotic therapy (not supported by antibiogram)
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Università degli studi di Roma Foro Italico

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

University of Roma La Sapienza

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Mario Fontana

MD, PhD, Associate Professor

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Serena Crucianelli, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

La Sapienza University of Rome

Mario Fontana, MD, PhD

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

La Sapienza University of Rome

Vincenzo Romano Spica, MD, PhD

Role: STUDY_CHAIR

Foro Italico University of Rome

Locations

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Terme di Roma Acque Albiule

Bagni di Tivoli, Rome, Italy

Site Status

Countries

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Italy

References

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Tsuji, Hideo.

Reference Type BACKGROUND

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Reference Type RESULT

Provided Documents

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Document Type: Informed Consent Form

View Document

Other Identifiers

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AR12419075FF92A2

Identifier Type: OTHER_GRANT

Identifier Source: secondary_id

VULNOLOGIATERMALE1

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id