Successful treatment of chronic decubitus ulcer with 0.1% dirhamnolipid ointment.

BACKGROUND: Previous investigations of the biologic activities of dirhamnolipid alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-2)alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-3-hydroxydecanoyl-3-hydroxydecanoic acid have demonstrated that it could be a novel therapeutic agent for wound healing and various immunologic and dermatologic conditions.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this article is to report the successful treatment of a decubitus ulcer with dirhamnolipid.

METHODS: The patient was a 90-year-old woman who developed a decubitus ulcer on her right buttock. The patient was initially treated by a standard procedure using pressure reduction, wound management, surgical intervention, and nutrition. The open, full-thickness wound progressed to a size of 10 x 7 cm, with evidence of tissue deterioration. The draining ulcer reached a dimension of 1 x 1.5 x 3 cm. The 0.1% dirhamnolipid ointment was administered at regular intervals, three times daily, by applying a thin layer of ointment directly to the wound area. Photographs were taken at regular 5-day intervals.

RESULTS: The standard therapy gave no improvement. Subsequently, therapy with topical dirhamnolipid ointment resulted in a completely healed wound on day 48 of the treatment.

CONCLUSION: This case demonstrates that application of dirhamnolipid resulted in the healing of a chronic decubitus ulcer in an elderly, debilitated patient and might be a useful therapy to improve healing of decubitus ulcers.