670 Delayed Enzymatic Debridement of Burn Wounds using the Proteolytic Gel SN514

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Thermal burns account for 5–10% of casualties sustained in present-day conflicts and are expected to be one of the most common wounds to occur in future conflicts. In prolonged field care (PFC) situations, medical evacuation could be delayed for days. During this time, burn wounds can become infected, detrimentally impact neighboring tissue, and cause systemic immune responses. Therefore, it is essential to test and evaluate non-surgical debridement agents that could be implemented prior to reaching a Role 3 military treatment facility. This work details how the proprietary proteolytic gel SN514 impacts burn debridement when applied within a PFC-like timeline. SN514 contains an enzyme formulation that is thermostable, easy to apply, and selectively degrades non-viable tissue in vitro and in vivo. Methods Deep-partial thickness contact burns were created using an established porcine model and covered with gauze or an antimicrobial incise drape. Four days later, the burns were treated with one of five treatments: 0.2% SN514, 0.8% SN514, a vehicle control, gauze, or an antimicrobial silver dressing. Treatments were re-applied every 24 hours for 72 to 96 hours. The effects of the treatment regiments were compared histologically. Biopsies were also taken to monitor bacterial contamination levels. Results Burns treated with SN514 were partially debrided and visually distinct from those treated with gauze, the silver dressing, or the vehicle control. Preliminary analyses suggest that SN514-treated burns that had been covered with “dry” gauze had a much lower debridement efficiency than those treated with the incise drape. This suggests that SN514 debridement efficiency may depend on the presence of a moist eschar. Preliminary analyses also suggest that there was little difference in burn wound bacterial counts among the five treatment groups. Conclusions SN514 is able to debride burns that experienced delayed treatment, without any evidence of harm to the surrounding tissue or evidence of exacerbating the original burn injury. SN514-treated wounds displayed little to no blood loss and did not increase burn wound infection levels compared to wounds treated with gauze or an antimicrobial silver dressing.