What Researchers Did
Researchers reviewed how hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) works and is used as an additional treatment for various infections.
What They Found
They found that HBOT directly kills microbes through oxygen toxicity and indirectly boosts the body's immune system by improving white blood cell function and helping tissues heal. Clinical evidence supports its use alongside other treatments for complex infections like diabetic foot wounds, necrotizing soft tissue infections, COVID-19, and mucormycosis, especially in areas with low oxygen where standard treatments don't work well.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
For Canadian patients suffering from complex infections, especially those with poor oxygen supply to tissues, HBOT could offer a valuable additional treatment option. This review suggests HBOT may help improve healing and fight infections like diabetic foot wounds and necrotizing soft tissue infections when standard therapies are not enough.
Canadian Relevance
This study covers diabetic foot wounds, which is a Health Canada-recognized indication for hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
Study Limitations
As a review, this study summarizes existing evidence, but it highlights the need for more randomized controlled trials to standardize HBOT protocols and confirm its effectiveness.