Topical Methylene Blue-Photodynamic Therapy (MB-PDT) for Burn Wound Infection

Summary

Burn wound infections remain a major source of morbidity in patients with thermal injuries and contribute to delayed healing, graft loss, and prolonged hospitalization. The emergence of antimicrobial-resistant organisms further complicates management and highlights the need for non-antibiotic antimicrobial strategies. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an antimicrobial approach that combines a photosensitizing agent with visible light to generate reactive oxygen species capable of killing bacteria. This randomized clinical trial will evaluate the safety and preliminary efficacy of methylene blue-mediated photodynamic therapy for the treatment of burn wound bacterial contamination. Participants receiving standard burn care will be randomized to receive either methylene blue-photodynamic therapy with blue light illumination or light therapy alone during routine dressing changes. Treatments will occur during two consecutive dressing changes. The primary objective is to determine whether methylene blue photodynamic therapy reduces bacterial burden in burn wounds compared with light therapy alone. Secondary outcomes include safety, tolerability, and effects on wound healing.

Timeline

Start

2026-06

Primary completion

2028-05-31

Completion

2028-05-31

Publications

• Background Dai T, Huang YY, Hamblin MR. Photodynamic therapy for localized infections--state of the art. Photodiagnosis Photodyn Ther. 2009 Sep-Dec;6(3-4):170-88. doi: 10.1016/j.pdpdt.2009.10.008.
• Background Hamblin MR, Hasan T. Photodynamic therapy: a new antimicrobial approach to infectious disease? Photochem Photobiol Sci. 2004 May;3(5):436-50. doi: 10.1039/b311900a. Epub 2004 Feb 12.
• Background Wainwright M. Photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy (PACT). J Antimicrob Chemother. 1998 Jul;42(1):13-28. doi: 10.1093/jac/42.1.13.
• Background Bhutani VK; Committee on Fetus and Newborn; American Academy of Pediatrics. Phototherapy to prevent severe neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in the newborn infant 35 or more weeks of gestation. Pediatrics. 2011 Oct;128(4):e1046-52. doi: 10.1542/peds.2011-1494. Epub 2011 Sep 26.

Drugs

Indications