‘Glowing’ dressing shows when wounds are infected

SCIENTISTS in Yorkshire have developed a wound dressing that glows to indicate an infection and could be tested on patients within two years.

Researchers in Sheffield have created a gel containing molecules that bind to bacteria and activate a fluorescent dye. Under ultraviolet light, the dressing emits a pinkish glow when harmful levels of bacteria are present.

Tests on lab-grown human skin showed that the same gel could also remove infectious bacteria.

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The dressing is expected to help doctors treating chronic wounds, such as ulcers in diabetic patients, which are easily infected.

Army medics could also use it to identify soldiers with infected injuries. Part of the funding has come from the Ministry of Defence.

Professor Sheila MacNeil, one of the researchers at the University of Sheffield, said: “If you know you’ve got infection it’s going to change how you treat your soldiers, it’s going to change how you’re going to treat those patients in the home.”

The gel can rid a wound of up to 80 per cent of surface bugs in around three hours.