Wound Stabilization to Prevent Combat Infections

Even when battlefield wounded are evacuated quickly and receive near immediate medical care in the form of resuscitation, immobilization of injured limb, surgical debridement and irrigation, and antibiotics, wounds such as open fractures are fraught with complications such as infection leading to morbidity, loss of limb, and disabling conditions. In the case of Multi-Domain Operations, where we are fighting one or more Near-Peer Competitors in Large Scale Operations, medical evacuations will likely be delayed for days. Open fractures and other injuries like traumatic amputations will be a huge burden on the medical resources on the battlefield and reduce the fighting force. Moreover, infection will almost be certain because wounds will not receive surgical care allowing bacteria to replicate quickly and then form recalcitrant biofilms; sepsis with subsequent death are possibilities during extended prolonged field care. This proposal will evaluate the potential of a multifunctional antimicrobial innate immune protein, API-E2, to stabilize the wound by addressing the challenges of delayed surgical treatment to prevent infection and potential of sepsis.