Feasibility of using microbubbles on infected burns

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Feasibility of ultrasound-activated microbubble–assisted topical antibiotic delivery in infected partial-thickness burns: a randomised controlled trial.

• IRAS ID

  1013208

• Contact name

  Fadi Issa

• Contact email

  fadi.issa@nhs.net

• Sponsor organisation

  Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust

• ISRCTN Number

  ISRCTN42000162

• Research summary

  Antibiotic resistance has become a serious problem, with growing numbers of untreatable infections reported each year.
  When bacteria infect a burn, they can form protective layers called biofilms. These biofilms make it harder for antibiotics to reach and kill the bacteria. As a result, infections can take longer to heal, and stronger antibiotics may be needed. Over time, this overuse of antibiotics can lead to bacteria becoming resistant to antibiotics, which means some infections no longer respond to treatment. Scientists are looking for new ways to deliver antibiotics directly to infected areas so they can work more effectively while reducing the risk of resistance.
  One promising idea is using ultrasound-activated microbubbles. These are tiny bubbles that, when exposed to ultrasound waves (sound waves that vibrate at a high frequency), can help antibiotics move deeper into the infected tissue and break through biofilms. This could make the antibiotics work better at the site of infection, allowing for faster healing and reducing the need for stronger antibiotics.
  This study will assess whether ultrasound-activated microbubbles with antibiotics are safe, and whether a larger study is feasible. Some indications of the impact of the use of ultrasound-activated microbubbles with antibiotics on patient recovery will also be made. Adult inpatients with small, infected burns who are admitted to the burns unit in Buckinghamshire Healthcare Trust will be randomly assigned to receive ultrasound-activated microbubbles with antibiotics or a treatment that looks the same but has no active medication. The treatment will be given alongside normal wound care and antibiotics. Researchers will check for any side effects, see how easy it is to use the treatment, and measure how well the infection heals. Participants will be followed up until the wound has healed. If this study is successful, it can lead to larger trials and, in the future, a new way to treat wound infections

• REC name

  London - Dulwich Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  25/LO/0907

• Date of REC Opinion

  10 Feb 2026

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion