Polarized currents inhibit in vitro growth of bacteria colonizing cutaneous ulcers.

Infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli are among the microorganisms that often lead to infection in pressure ulcers. Polarized current has emerged as a possible intervention to limit bacterial proliferation. We analyzed the effect of fixed diphasic - Bernard (FD-B) and high voltage monophasic pulsed (HVMP) currents on bacteria S. aureus ATCC 25923 (Gram +), P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853 (Gram -), and E. coli ATCC 25922 (Gram -). After the bacterial strains were activated the bacteria were suspended in physiological solution (0.9%) and the concentration adjusted to 1.5 × 10(3) CFU/mL. The cultures were stimulated with FD-B current at (3, 6, and 9 mA, 100 Hz, 15 and 30 minutes) and HVMP (32, 64, and 95 V, 100 Hz, 30 and 60 min) while monitoring the pH and temperature. After the stimulation, the suspensions were plated and incubated for 24 hours at 37°C. Then the counts were made of colony forming units (CFU). Data were submitted to normality Shapiro-Wilk test followed by nonparametric ANOVA test and post hoc Tukey test with p < 0.05. There was a decrease in the CFU for the two currents, but the most effective reduction was in FD-B. The temperature remained constant and the pH measured alkaline at the negative pole and acid at the positive pole during stimulation. The application of FD-B and HVMP currents promoted inhibition of bacterial proliferation when stimulated in vitro, acting as an adjuvant resource in the healing process.