Positive Effects of Spray-Dried Streptococcus thermophilus on Healing of Second-Degree Burn Wounds in Wistar Rats

ABSTRACT               Background and Objectives: Current medications used for the treatment of burn wounds have some side effects and disadvantages. Oral or topical administration of probiotic bacteria is thought to be useful for treatment of skin disorders. The aim of this study was to evaluate effects of spray-dried Streptococcus thermophilus on healing of second-degree burn wounds.               Methods: After induction of second-degree burn on back of 80 male Wistar rats, the animals were randomly allocated to negative control (no treatment), first vehicle control (treatment with Eucerin), second vehicle control (treatment with skim milk) and experimental (treatment with bacterial ointment) groups. Wound healing rate (percent) and histopathological parameters of wound samples were evaluated on post-burn days 1, 3, 7 and 14.               Results: On days 3 and 7, macroscopic results showed that the healing rate was significantly higher in the experimental group compared to the control groups. Histopathological analysis of wound samples showed increased fibroblastic migration, collagen formation and re-epithelialization in the wounds treated with probiotic bacteria compared with the wounds of control groups.               Conclusion: Our results indicate that the topical use of spray-dried S. thermophilus could be useful for the treatment of burn wounds.               Keywords: Streptococcus thermophilus; Probiotics; Burns; Wound Healing; Rats.