Dermatol. praxi. 2025;19(4):162-166 | DOI: 10.36290/der.2025.029

The importance of microbiological findings in non-healing wounds in the clinical practice

MUDr. Daniel Wolny^{1, 2}, doc. MUDr. Ladislav Štěpánek, Ph.D.¹, prof. MUDr. Dagmar Horáková, Ph.D.¹

¹ Ústav veřejného zdravotnictví, Lékařská fakulta Univerzity Palackého, Olomouc

² Chirurgické oddělení, Vojenská nemocnice Olomouc

Introduction: Non-healing wounds are a major medical and socioeconomic issue. Microbiological agents are the key factor in their pathogenesis, affecting not only the rate, but the very possibility of healing. The aim of the study was to analyze the spectrum of microorganisms isolated from non-healing wounds and to assess their effect on the duration and success of healing.

Methods: This observational ambispective study enrolled patients with chronic wounds treated at the Outpatient Department of Surgery of the Military Hospital Olomouc between August 2021 and September 2023. In patients with signs of infection, wound swabs were taken using the Levine technique and cultured on standard microbiological media. The patients' medical history, wound characteristics, and course of treatment were recorded.

Results: The study included 149 patients with a mean age of 64.4 years. Microbiological testing was performed in 110 wounds, of which 103 (93.6 %) were shown to be positive. Staphylococcus, Proteus, and Streptococcus were the most commonly detected genera. The presence of the Proteus, Pseudomonas, and Escherichia genera was significantly associated with prolonged healing (by 87, 72, and 35 days, respectively). Wound colonization with these bacterial genera thus prolonged the duration of treatment, but did not affect the overall chance of wound healing.

Conclusion: The presence of specific microorganisms, particularly of Gram-negative bacteria, has a substantial impact on the process of healing. Targeted microbiological diagnosis and rational antibiotic treatment are key to optimizing treatment outcomes in the clinical practice of dermatologists, surgeons, general practitioners as well as physicians in other fields of medicine.

Keywords: non-healing wound, microbiological agents, bacteria, healing.

Accepted: December 3, 2025; Published: December 16, 2025  Show citation