Did you know?
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) can significantly enhance the body’s natural ability to heal even the most severe and chronic wounds that have resisted conventional treatments for years. For instance, HBOT has been used to save limbs from amputation in diabetic patients with non-healing foot ulcers, dramatically improving their quality of life and preventing severe disability.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)
Researched by:
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Karen Pendergrass
ID
Karen Pendergrass
Karen Pendergrass is a microbiome researcher specializing in microbiome-targeted interventions (MBTIs). She systematically analyzes scientific literature to identify microbial patterns, develop hypotheses, and validate interventions. As the founder of the Microbiome Signatures Database, she bridges microbiome research with clinical practice. In 2012, based on her own investigative research, she became the first documented case of FMT for Celiac Disease—four years before the first published case study.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (BOT) involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber, which increases the amount of oxygen dissolved in the blood and delivered to tissues.
Research feed -
Karen Pendergrass
Researched by:
-
Karen Pendergrass
ID
Karen Pendergrass
Microbiome Signatures identifies and validates condition-specific microbiome shifts and interventions to accelerate clinical translation. Our multidisciplinary team supports clinicians, researchers, and innovators in turning microbiome science into actionable medicine.
Karen Pendergrass
Overview 
Research Feed Overview
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber, which increases the amount of oxygen dissolved in the blood and delivered to tissues. Clinically, HBOT treats conditions such as decompression sickness, carbon monoxide poisoning, chronic wounds, and infections. Recent research explores HBOT’s impact on the human microbiome, the microorganisms living in and on our bodies that play a crucial role in health and disease. By having patients inhale 100% oxygen at pressures between 1.5 and 3.0 atmospheres absolute (ATA), HBOT enhances oxygen delivery to hypoxic tissues, stimulates new blood vessel growth, reduces tissue edema, modulates inflammatory responses, enhances white blood cells’ ability to kill bacteria, inhibits anaerobic bacteria growth, and promotes fibroblast activity and wound healing.
Mechanism of Action
The mechanisms of action for Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) include enhanced oxygen delivery, increasing oxygen transport to hypoxic tissues, neovascularization, stimulating new blood vessel growth, and anti-inflammatory effects, reducing tissue edema and modulating inflammatory responses. Additionally, HBOT boosts antimicrobial activity by enhancing the ability of white blood cells to kill bacteria and directly inhibiting anaerobic bacteria growth. It also promotes collagen synthesis, which supports fibroblast activity and wound healing.
What is the impact of HBOT on the microbiome?
The impact of HBOT on the microbiome is an emerging field of research with several potential effects. HBOT’s antimicrobial properties include increasing oxygen levels in tissues, detrimental to anaerobic bacteria like Clostridium species, and enhancing the bactericidal capabilities of neutrophils and macrophages. It also modulates microbial communities by shifting the balance of microbial populations and disrupting biofilms, making bacteria more susceptible to treatment. In wound healing and infection control, HBOT reduces pathogenic bacteria and supports beneficial microbial growth in chronic wounds and radiation-induced tissue damage. Additionally, systemic changes in oxygenation from HBOT might alter gut bacterial composition, potentially impacting conditions like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
| Effect | Description |
|---|---|
| Antimicrobial Properties | Direct Effects on Pathogens: Increases oxygen levels, inhibiting anaerobic bacteria like Clostridium species. Enhanced Immune Function: Boosts bactericidal capabilities of neutrophils and macrophages. |
| Modulation of Microbial Communities | Alteration in Bacterial Populations: Shifts balance of microbial communities, reducing harmful anaerobes and promoting beneficial aerobes. Impact on Biofilms: Disrupts biofilms, making bacteria more susceptible to treatment. |
| Wound Healing and Infection Control | Chronic Wounds: Reduces pathogenic bacteria and supports beneficial microbial growth. Radiation-Induced Tissue Damage: Improves local microbiome and reduces infections, enhancing recovery. |
| Potential Effects on Gut Microbiome | Systemic Effects: May alter gut bacterial composition, potentially impacting conditions like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). |
| Biolfilm disruption | HBOT, as an anti-biofilm treatment of chronic wounds, counteracts biofilm pharmacokinetics. [x] |
Conditions
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) has established clinical indications supported by robust evidence and regulatory acceptance, and it is also being investigated for numerous potential applications.
What are the established uses for HBOT?
Established Uses
Established uses include treating conditions such as decompression sickness, air or gas embolism, carbon monoxide poisoning, chronic wounds, necrotizing soft tissue infections, thermal burns, crush injuries, compartment syndrome, radiation tissue damage, and severe anemia.
| Condition | Description |
|---|---|
| Decompression Sickness (DCS) | Common in divers, DCS results from rapid decompression causing nitrogen bubbles to form in tissues and blood. |
| Air or Gas Embolism | Air bubbles entering the bloodstream, requiring immediate treatment. |
| Carbon Monoxide (CO) Poisoning | Reduces the half-life of carboxyhemoglobin, enhancing oxygen delivery to tissues. |
| Chronic Wounds | Particularly effective in diabetic foot ulcers, promoting wound healing. |
| Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infections | Inhibits bacterial growth and enhances antibiotic efficacy. |
| Thermal Burns | Reduces edema, enhances wound healing, and decreases infection risk. |
| Crush Injuries and Compartment Syndrome | Alleviates ischemia and promotes tissue repair. |
| Radiation Tissue Damage | Effective for late effects of radiation therapy, like radiation cystitis. |
| Severe Anemia | Enhances oxygen delivery when blood transfusions are not possible. |
What are the investigational uses for HBOT?
Investigational Uses
Investigational uses span a range of conditions, including traumatic brain injury, stroke, endometriosis, multiple sclerosis, autism spectrum disorders, cerebral palsy, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, sudden sensorineural hearing loss, mitochondrial and metabolic disorders, inflammatory bowel disease, chronic pain syndromes, non-diabetic chronic wounds, and post-surgical healing and recovery.
| Condition | Description |
|---|---|
| Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) | Investigations are ongoing to determine if HBOT can enhance recovery by reducing brain tissue damage and promoting neurogenesis. |
| Stroke | Investigations ongoing to determine if HBOT can enhance recovery by reducing brain tissue damage and promoting neurogenesis. |
| Multiple Sclerosis (MS) | Studied for the potential to improve neurological outcomes and cognitive function. |
| Autism Spectrum Disorders | Explored for improving cognitive and behavioral functions. |
| Cerebral Palsy | Investigated for benefits in motor function and cognitive improvements. |
| Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome | Assessed for alleviating pain and improving energy levels. |
| Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss | Some studies suggest improved hearing recovery. |
| Mitochondrial and Metabolic Disorders | Explored for improving mitochondrial function and metabolic health. |
| Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) | Evaluated for reducing inflammation and promoting healing in conditions like Crohn’s disease. |
| Chronic Pain Syndromes | Ongoing research for managing conditions like complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). |
| Wound Healing in Non-Diabetic Patients | Investigations extending to non-diabetic chronic wounds. |
| Post-Surgical Healing and Recovery | Research on accelerating healing and reducing complications. |
| Endometriosis | Examined for the potential to reduce symptom severity and slow disease progression. |
Research Feed
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy counteracts Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm micro-compartment phenomenon in murine thermal wounds
December 15, 2023
The study found that chronic infections involve biofilm phenotype bacteria, which cause hyperinflammation and resist antibiotics, suggesting that a multifaceted treatment approach that includes debridement and targeted antibiofilm agents should be further investigated.
What was studied?
The study examined the role of biofilms in chronic infections and evaluated whether current medical approaches are effectively targeting biofilm-related infections.
Who was studied?
The study focused on clinical observations and laboratory analyses involving patients with chronic infections. It analyzed biofilm samples and treatment outcomes in these patients.
What were the most important findings?
The study found that chronic infections are primarily associated with biofilm-forming bacteria, which differ significantly from the planktonic bacteria seen in acute infections. Biofilms are characterized by sustained hyperinflammation and a high resistance to antibiotics, making them difficult to treat. Traditional clinical cultures are often inadequate for diagnosing biofilm infections, underscoring the need for molecular diagnostic methods. Effective management of biofilm-related infections requires a multifaceted approach, including debridement and targeted antibiofilm agents, to disrupt the biofilm structure and enhance treatment efficacy.
What are the greatest implications of this study?
The study underscores the necessity for improved diagnostic methods and comprehensive treatment strategies for biofilm-related infections. It suggests that current clinical practices may not adequately address the complexity of biofilm infections, necessitating advancements in both diagnosis and treatment to manage chronic infections effectively.
Endometriosis
Endometriosis involves ectopic endometrial tissue causing pain and infertility. Validated and Promising Interventions include Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT), Low Nickel Diet, and Metronidazole therapy.