Artificial Skin Helps with Rare Blister Disease

Article

WASHINGTON, DC-Children afflicted with a rare genetic disease may be helped with a new artificial skin.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved the skin. Children who have epidermolysis bullosa have severe blisters that can scar and leave the fingers melded together like a mitten. Their fingers must be separated surgically, wrapped in non-sticky bandages and healed with skin grafts. The healing process takes extensive amounts of time, leaving the door open for infection.

New York-based Ortec International Inc., wants to change this process with a composite cultured skin made from living skin cells and the foreskins from circumcised newborn baby boys. The new artificial skin is aimed at those who are severely affected by the disease. There are 4,000 people diagnosed per year with EB.

Australian surgeons using the new skin found it helped speed up the healing process, therefore, preventing infection.

Information from www.washingtonpost.com

Recent Videos
Pathogen Playbook Presenter: Sharon Ward-Fore, BS, MS, MT(ASCP), CIC, FAPIC
Mark Wiencek, PhD
Rebecca Crapanzano-Sigafoos, DrPH, CIC, AL-CIP, FAPIC
The CDC’s updated hospital respiratory reporting requirement has added new layers of responsibility for infection preventionists. Karen Jones, MPH, RN, CIC, FAPIC, clinical program manager at Wolters Kluwer, breaks down what it means and how IPs can adapt.
Studying for the CIC using a digital tablet and computer (Adobe Stock 335828989 by NIKCOA)
Infection Control Today's Conversations with the HSPA President, Arlene Bush, CRCST, CER, CIS, SME, DSMD, CRMST
Infection Control Today's Conversations with the HSPA President, Arlene Bush, CRCST, CER, CIS, SME, DSMD, CRMST
Cheron Rojo, BS, FCS, CHL,  CER, CFER, CRCST
Matthias Tschoerner, Dr Sc
Standardizing Cleaning and Disinfection
Related Content