Nam Ha Jong, Kim Se Young, Choi Hwan Jun
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Soonchunhyang University Gumi Hospital, Gumi 39371, Republic of Korea.
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital, Cheonan 31151, Republic of Korea.
Diagnostics (Basel). 2025 Sep 1;15(17):2221. doi: 10.3390/diagnostics15172221.
Timely and accurate identification of wound infections is essential for effective management, yet remains clinically challenging. This study evaluated the utility of a near-infrared autofluorescence imaging system (Fluobeam, Fluoptics, Grenoble, France) and a thermal imaging system (FLIR, Teledyne LLC, Thousand Oaks, CA, USA) for detecting bacterial and fungal infections in chronic wounds. Fluobeam enables real-time visualization of microbial autofluorescence without exogenous contrast agents, whereas FLIR detects localized thermal changes associated with infection-related inflammation. This retrospective clinical study included 33 patients with suspected wound infections. All patients underwent autofluorescence imaging using Fluobeam and concurrent thermal imaging with FLIR. Imaging findings were compared with microbiological culture results, clinical signs of infection, and semi-quantitative microbial burdens. Fluobeam achieved a sensitivity of 78.3% and specificity of 80.0% in detecting culture-positive infections. Fluorescence signal intensity correlated strongly with microbial burden (r = 0.76, < 0.01) and clinical indicators, such as exudate, swelling, and malodor. Pathogens with high metabolic fluorescence, including and spp., were consistently identified. Representative cases demonstrate the utility of fluorescence imaging in guiding targeted debridement and enhancing intraoperative decision-making. Near-infrared autofluorescence imaging with Fluobeam and thermal imaging with FLIR offer complementary, noninvasive diagnostic insights into microbial burden and host inflammatory response. The combined use of these modalities may improve infection detection, support clinical decision-making, and enhance wound care outcomes.
及时准确地识别伤口感染对于有效管理至关重要，但在临床上仍然具有挑战性。本研究评估了近红外自发荧光成像系统（Fluobeam，Fluoptics公司，法国格勒诺布尔）和热成像系统（FLIR，Teledyne LLC公司，美国加利福尼亚州千橡市）在检测慢性伤口细菌和真菌感染方面的效用。Fluobeam能够在不使用外源性造影剂的情况下实时可视化微生物自发荧光，而FLIR则检测与感染相关炎症相关的局部热变化。这项回顾性临床研究纳入了33例疑似伤口感染的患者。所有患者均使用Fluobeam进行自发荧光成像，并同时使用FLIR进行热成像。将成像结果与微生物培养结果、感染的临床体征和半定量微生物负荷进行比较。Fluobeam在检测培养阳性感染方面的灵敏度为78.3%，特异性为80.0%。荧光信号强度与微生物负荷（r = 0.76，< 0.01）以及渗出液、肿胀和恶臭等临床指标密切相关。包括 和 属在内的具有高代谢荧光的病原体得到了一致识别。代表性病例证明了荧光成像在指导靶向清创和加强术中决策方面的效用。使用Fluobeam进行近红外自发荧光成像和使用FLIR进行热成像为微生物负荷和宿主炎症反应提供了互补的非侵入性诊断见解。联合使用这些方法可能会改善感染检测、支持临床决策并提高伤口护理效果。
