Immediate effect of pulsed high-intensity neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd: YAG) laser on staphylococcus aureus and pseudomonas aeruginosa growth: an experimental study.
Anwar Abdelgayed Ebid, Raniah M Alhammad, Rania T Alhendi and 10 others
PMID 31871379WHAT IT FOUND
Pulsed Nd:YAG laser reduced bacterial colony counts on lab plates.
It reported larger reductions at higher energy settings. This was not a patient study, so it does not show laser can treat infected wounds.
Key findings
01A single pulsed Nd:YAG laser application significantly decreased bacterial colony counts compared with controls after 24 hours.
02For S. aureus, the paper reports reductions of 50.90%, 66.42%, 70.69%, and 77.45% at 500 J, 600 J, 700 J, and 800 J.
03For P. aeruginosa, the paper reports reductions of 56.82%, 59.21%, 71.76%, and 76.45% at 500 J, 600 J, 700 J, and 800 J.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
This was a laboratory study of bacteria on plates, not a study of patients, wounds, or infected tissue. The paper reports a small sample size and notes the application environment should be more isolated. Colonies were counted manually, and the authors note electronic counting would be preferable. The measured outcomes were colony count and percentage decrease, not infection resolution, healing, pain, or function. The authors state further animal work is needed to determine clinical suitability.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest, and the research received no specific grant from any funding agency, commercial enterprise, or not-for-profit institute.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that pulsed Nd:YAG laser can treat infected wounds in patients. The study measured bacterial colonies on agar plates, not people or wounds, and the authors state further animal work is needed to determine clinical suitability.