A dermal infection involves the dermis, the dense inner layer of skin beneath the epidermis. These skin infections are caused by microbial invasion, and the presentation and severity of infection vary based on time of treatment, the invading pathogen, and the immune response it elicits. In severe cases, dermal infections can progress to the underlying soft tissue or become systemic. Our dermal studies assess the pharmacodynamic relationship between novel antimicrobial agents and infection outcome.

Procedure
We have established a deep wound infection model in mice (validation in rats is available upon request). A biopsy punch is used to create a full-thickness 6 mm wound over the thoracic spine area on the dorsal surface and bacterial broth is inoculated directly into the wound. Test article may be administered via topical application, oral gavage (PO), subcutaneous (SC), intraperitoneal (IP), or intravenous (IV) injection. Each study parameter (animal strain, pathogen, comparator(s), and dosing schedule) can be customized to meet client needs.

Endpoints for this study include CFU burden in harvested skin. Pharmacokinetic profiling, blood chemistry, additional tissue harvests, and histology are available upon request.

Sample Data

Pathogens
TransPharm has validated a deep wound dermal infection model using the following pathogens:

• Acinetobacter baumannii
  • ATCC 17961
  • MMX 6970
• Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
  • USA300

Additional validations are available upon request.