Experimental research on the effects of platelet rich plasma on the prevention of seawater immersion wound infection and promotion of wound healing

Abstract

Objective To investigate whether platelet rich plasma (PRP) could prevent seawater immersion wound infection and promote wound healing. Methods New Zealand white rabbits were used to establish the seawater immersion injury model and were randomly divided into 3 groups: the saline immersion group, the seawater immersion group and the seawater immersion wound treated with platelet rich plasma (PRP) group (or simply the PRP treatment group). General medical data, wound outward appearance and healing of the rabbits after surgery were closely recorded at 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42 days. Forty-two days after treatment, some tissues taken from the surgical sites were collected to perform histopathological detection by HE, and other tissues were ground to have bacteriological examination. Results Body temperature, body weight, and white blood cell level of the PRP treatment group were significantly superior to those of the seawater immersion group(P<0.05). After surgery, the wound in the seawater immersion group was obviously swollen, and there was a lot of purulent secretion. Though the wound could be healed at late stage, the healed wound was clearly swollen. On the other hand, there was no significant infection for the PRP treatment group after surgery, with good wound healing. Histopathological detection results showed that the structure of muscle fibers for the PRP treatment group remained intact, without obvious inflammatory cell infiltration. However, the structure of muscle fibers for the seawater immersed group was disrupted, dissolved and was in a state of disorder, with obvious inflammatory cell infiltration. Microbiological study indicated that the infecting bacterium genus was Coccus. The number of cultured bacterial colonies in the PRP treatment group was significantly smaller than that in the seawater immersion group(P<0.05). Conclusion PRP could prevent seawater immersion wound infection, promote wound healing, and had the potential for infection prevention and treatment of seawater immersion wound. Key words: Platelet rich plasma; Seawater immersion; Wound infection; Wound healing