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Evidence Category:
Diagnostic Accuracy

Diagnostic Accuracy

Clinical signs and symptoms (CSS) assessment has poor sensitivity (6.8%) for detecting high bacterial loads in surgical wounds

Point-of-care fluorescence imaging for high bacterial loads improved sensitivity by 5.7-fold compared with CSS alone

Advanced image interpretation training, including hands-on experience, further increases sensitivity of fluorescence imaging up to 11.3-fold vs. CSS alone


Efficient, accurate diagnosis of cellulitis critical to avoid costly complications

Unique pattern of red fluorescence extending beyond the wound was observed in all cases of wound-related cellulitis

Fluorescence imaging aided in the early diagnosis of wound-related cellulitis, resulting in the initiation of oral antibiotics without delay, avoiding progressive cellulitis


Early awareness and management of bacterial burden & biofilm is essential to wound healing

Tissue biopsy & quantitative culture aren’t widely practiced and semi-quantitative analysis is unreliable

MolecuLight fluorescence imaging offers great potential to detect elevated bacterial burden in wounds