The Effect of Freeze-Dried and Irradiated Human Amnion on the Staphylococcal Load on Rat wounds

Abstract

The effect of freeze-drying and 25 Kgy of gamma radiation on the antibacterial action of fresh human amnions was determined by comparing the antibacterial effect of freeze-dried and irradiated human amnions on the Staphylococcus aureus population on rat wounds. Twenty male albino full-thickness rat wounds were inoculated with approximately 10° S. aureus bacterial density and treated with fresh, freeze-dried, and irradiated human amnions 5 days post wound creation. Tissue bacterial counts were performed on wounds treated with the various amnions and the untreated control group on the 2™ and 4™ day post treatment. Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference in the percent change in S. aureus bacterial counts of the freeze-dried, and irradiated amnions compared to that of the untreated control, indicating an antibacterial action. No significant difference was observed in the percent change in S. aureus bacterial counts among the fresh, freeze-dried, and irradiated human amnions, suggesting that freeze-drying and 25 Kgy of gamma radiation had no effect on the antibacterial action of fresh human amnions on wounds.