Álvaro Afonso, Francisco JavierFlores Escobar, SebastiánSevillano Fernández, DavidGarcía Álvarez, YolandaGarcía-Madrid Martín De Almagro, MartaLázaro Martínez, José Luis2024-04-192024-04-192023-111067-19271524-475X10.1111/wrr.13124https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/1032882023 Acuerdos transformativos CRUEThe current study aimed to evaluate the dispersal of solution and microbes (aerosol) in the clinical environment during treatment with Low-frequency contact ultrasonic debridement (LFCUD) with or without suction attachment in patients with diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). We performed 20 treatments in 10 patients divided into two groups to receive the proposed LFCUD modalities. We measured the microbial load of the environment pre-treatment (sample M1), during treatment with each LFCUD modality (sample M2) and post-treatment (sample M3). The use of LFCUD debridement without a suction attachment results in significantly higher immediate contamination of the clinic environment than the suction attachment, particularly during the procedure (1.70 ± 0.98 log 10 CFU/mL versus 0.77 ± 0.85 log 10 CFU/mL, p = 0.035). When suction is not applied, there are statistically significant differences depending on whether the DFUs are neuropathic or neuroischemic, finding a greater number of microorganisms with high loads in neuropathic DFUs. We found a statistically significant positive correlation between wound area (r = 0.450, p = 0.047) and TBI (r = 0.651, p = 0.006) with the bacterial load during the LFCUD. Based on our results, we recommend using the personal protective equipment required to protect staff members and patients during treatment with LFCUD and using a suction attachment where clinically possible to reduce clinic environmental pollution, especially in neuropathic DFUs and those with larger areas.engAttribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 Internationaljournal articlehttps://doi.org/10.1111/wrr.13124open access616.718.7/.9clinic environmental pollutiondiabetic footdiabetic foot ulcerslow-frequency contact ultrasonic debridementPodología3299 Otras Especialidades Médicas