Inhibition of wound healing by Corynebacterium parvum

Corynebacterium parvum (C. parvum), an immunostimulant, was examined for its effects on wound healing in mice. Animals injected intraperitoneally with C. parvum, 1400 μg 48 hr prior to wounding had significantly decreased wound strength at 5, 7, 11, 14, and 21 days after wounding compared to saline-injected controls (P < 0.05-P < 0.001). Mice injected with C. parvum at 48 or 2 hr before wounding, synchronous with wounding and 2 or 48 hr after wounding had significantly decreased wound disruption strength of 11-day-old wounds (P < 0.01-P < 0.001). Formalin fixations of wound strips from C. parvum-treated animals were consistently weaker than similarly treated wound strips from controls (P < 0.05-P < 0.01). Histologic analysis of wounds from C. parvum-treated animals revealed decreased amounts of wound collagen and increased inflammatory reaction compared to saline-injected animals. While C. parvum can improve survival following injury or septic challenge, the potential for marked alterations in wound healing may limit its clinical application in surgical and trauma patients.