Management of donor site infections in split-thickness skin graft with water-filtered infrared-A (wIRA)

Infection of donor sites in split-thickness skin grafts is one of the complications of skin transplantation. Nutrition status and associated diseases play important roles in healing of donor sites. There are different ways used to treat infected donor sites. Water-filtered infrared-A (wIRA), as a special form of heat radiation with a high tissue penetration and a low thermal load to the skin surface, can improve the healing of acute and chronic wounds both by thermal and thermic as well as by non-thermal and non-thermic effects. Water-filtered infrared-A (wIRA) increases tissue temperature, tissue oxygen partial pressure and tissue perfusion. These three factors are decisive for a sufficient supply of tissue with energy and oxygen and consequently also for wound healing and infection defense. This was confirmed in a case with a late severe healing disturbance of the donor sites after skin transplantation.