Bacteria originally found in faeces help chronic wounds heal

An open wound is the perfect playground for bacteria – but some of these bacteria are actually helpful. Researchers found that Alcaligenes faecalis – named as such because it was originally discovered in faeces – promotes the healing of chronic wounds.

In people with diabetes, the body’s carefully coordinated process of wound healing collapses, leading to chronic wounds that refuse to heal. These injuries are hard to treat, and they often cause painful infections that can lead to amputations or death.