Description:
<jats:p>Abscesses are infected walled-off liquid collections of pus and bacteria. They can affect any part of the body. Current treatment is typically limited to antibiotics, catheter drainage and hospitalization. Although bacteria can develop drug resistance, they are susceptible to mechanical damage from cavitation, as demonstrated in our prior in vitro work [Brayman et al., UMB 43, 1476–1485 (2017); Brayman et al., UMB 44, 1996–2008 (2018)]. Histotripsy is a pulsed focused ultrasound regime that generates localized cavitation and represents a potential new noninvasive treatment modality. Here, we present preliminary reports of inactivation of bacteria in a newly developed porcine abscess model. In this model, multiple large (2–4 cm) multiloculated bimicrobial abscesses can be formed at distinct sites in the same animal. The abscesses satisfy the true definition of an abscess and are formed within a relatively short period (2–4 weeks). The model was developed toward testing new abscess treatment technologies. We will describe the animal model, and preliminary results of histotripsy treatments in which liquefaction of the viscous pus contents and up to 5-fold reduction in bacteria viability were achieved. Funded in part by NIH NIBIB #R01EB019365 and R01GM122859.</jats:p>