Treatment of Morganella morganii-Associated Non-healing Diabetic Foot Ulcer With Vaporous Hyperoxia Therapy: A Case Report

TL;DR

A 76-year-old diabetic patient with a non-healing foot ulcer caused by Morganella morganii was treated with vaporous hyperoxia therapy, showing potential as an effective treatment.

Contribution

Demonstrates the potential of vaporous hyperoxia therapy as an adjunct treatment for M. morganii-infected diabetic foot ulcers.

Findings

The patient's ulcer did not improve with conventional care and antibiotics.

Vaporous hyperoxia therapy was used as an alternative treatment approach.

The therapy showed promise in promoting healing of the infected ulcer.

Abstract

Diabetic foot ulcers represent a significant complication of diabetes mellitus, characterized by mechanical changes of bony architecture often leading to chronic wounds with increased risk of infection and impaired healing. Morganella morganii, a Gram-negative bacterium, is one of the pathogens found in infected diabetic foot ulcers. It is a human gastrointestinal commensal organism that may cause widespread deadly infections. This report discusses the case of a 76-year-old male with diabetes mellitus who presented with M. morganii diabetic foot ulcer to an in-patient rehabilitation facility. Despite conventional wound care and antibiotic therapy, the ulcer failed to improve. The management approach for this patient consisted of a rehabilitation modality called Vaporox, a machine that utilizes vaporous hyperoxia therapy (VHT), as it combines ultrasonic mist and high concentration of oxygen to fasten revascularization and healing. This case highlights the potential efficacy of VHT as an adjunctive therapy for the management of diabetic foot ulcers, particularly those complicated by pathogens, such as M. morganii.

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