Scientists Find Why Chronic Wounds Won't Heal

For millions of people with diabetic ulcers and chronic wounds, a tiny bacterium has been quietly sabotaging their body's ability to heal. Scientists at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore just figured out how it works, and the solution is surprisingly simple.

The culprit is Enterococcus faecalis, a common bacterium found in wounds that refuse to close. Instead of attacking tissue with toxins like most harmful bacteria, this one uses its own metabolism as a weapon.

The bacteria continuously pump out hydrogen peroxide, creating a cloud of oxidative stress around the wound. This chemical fog triggers skin cells to enter a protective "freeze mode" where they stop moving, preventing them from sealing the injury.

"The bacteria's metabolism itself is the weapon," said Associate Professor Guillaume Thibault, who led the study. "It was a surprise finding previously unknown to scientists."

The breakthrough came when researchers tested a different approach. Instead of trying to kill the bacteria with antibiotics, they neutralized the hydrogen peroxide it produces using catalase, a naturally occurring antioxidant enzyme.

The results were immediate. Once the chemical fog cleared, skin cells regained their ability to move and began closing the wound.

The Bright Side

This discovery offers hope for nearly 19 million people worldwide who suffer from chronic wounds each year. Diabetic foot ulcers alone are a leading cause of lower limb amputations, trapping patients in cycles of repeated infections and complications.

The treatment works even against antibiotic-resistant bacteria because it targets the harmful byproduct rather than the bug itself. As antibiotic resistance becomes more common, this "diplomatic" approach could transform wound care.

Better yet, antioxidants like catalase are already well understood and widely used in other medical fields. The team believes treatments could reach patients faster than traditional drug development, potentially through antioxidant-infused bandages designed to "unfreeze" the body's natural healing.

The findings were published in Science Advances following collaboration between researchers at NTU Singapore and the University of Geneva in Switzerland.

For people who've lived with wounds that won't heal, this research offers something powerful: a path forward that works with the body instead of just fighting against bacteria.