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Lab Research
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The Effects of Monochromatic Infrared Photo Energy on the Growth Rate of Candida albicans First Author: Maureen Schichtel Authors: Maureen Schichtel, DPT, Michael S. Brogan, DPT, PhD, FCCWS, Laura E. Edsberg, Ph.D., and Douglas Kalinowski, Ph.D Candidiasis is a fungal infection caused by Candida albicans, a common skin flora. Patients at greatest risk for a candida infection are typically immunocompromised. When the infection occurs subcutaneously, common etiology involves: diabetes, obesity, hyperhydrosis and/or long-term antibiotic therapy. Current treatment is lengthy and may involve a variety of topical and/or systemic antifungal medications. Various forms of alternative, non-invasive, affordable, yet efficacious treatments are often sought. The purpose of this study was to assess if Monochromatic Infrared Photo Energy (MIRE) via the Anodyne ¨Therapy System (ATS) is antifungal to C albicans in vitro. ATS has been purported to provide an alternative option for the treatment of chronic open wounds. The effects of this modality, however, on microbes such as C albicans, are currently unknown. To assess this modality, pure cultures of C albicans were incubated and exposed to 1.12J/cm2/min or 4bars on the Anodyne unit, for up to 90min, while at 37C. The effects of MIRE were analyzed using two methods, turbidity measurements and colony counts, and compared with controls. Preliminary results suggest that there are significant effects (decrease) on the growth rate of C albicans when exposed to monochromatic infrared photo energy for 90min. |
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