The Global Mission of Wound Care: Using a Human Keratin Matrix to Improve Healing in Refractory Wounds in Zanzibar

Hi, I'm Dr Walaya Methodius-Rayford, a vascular surgeon and certified wound care specialist here in Atlanta, Georgia. I'm here to talk to you about something I'm very passionate about, which was a global mission trip using Progenic Care Matrix, the first human keratin matrix graft to treat chronic wounds in Zanzibar. In August of last year, I was honored to be the medical educator and trainer for over 40 doctors and 20 nurses on a first innovative human keratin matrix that we would use to treat chronic wounds. Why is that important? As you know, diabetic foot ulcers make up a large population of chronic wounds, as well as venous leg ulcers. With these advancing care costs, lack of access to supplies and lack of ability and education, I was honored to be part of a wound care global summit that involved education, training, and treatment to the people of Zanzibar.

This human keratin matrix, it has easy storage and the ability to use the product for an extended amount of time with no lack of efficacy. While in Zanzibar, we had 10 patients that were identified and selected before we arrived. They were treated for eight weeks with the human keratin matrix, which would be reapplied either once a week or within a two week time period. Those patients had also undergone local wound debridement and dressing changes. Progress was then tracked by weekly wound size measurements, wound pictures, and a form of medical rounds using advanced technology to include things as WhatsApp and Zoom in order for all providers to be able to participate in the medical rounds. Images depicted here show the progression of the wound over the eight week trial period. As you can see, there is a weekly response that's been noted with the wound size, dimension, or wound bed change.

As you can see with the human keratin matrix, there is increased marginalization and reepithelialization of those wounds, again, enhancing the wound bed and in and creating a favorable environment for success. As you know, chronic wounds are a global issue, and they lead to the global wound care crisis that we continue to face today to be a true difference maker with a mission trip, such as the one in Zanzibar, you need proper education, training and continued follow-up and communication so that those patients will see success without. As you know, chronic wounds can lead to severe complications such as infection, amputation, and even death. This study shows that with proper education and training, even underserved areas of the can support and treat chronic wounds with a favorable success, the need for partnerships, education, and training can't be stressed enough. Our Global Mission Summit would not have been successful without the continued alignment of critical partnerships, such as with the Ministry of Health of Zanzibar, and the government.

We also assembled the top doctors who had a purpose and a reason to serve, to treat chronic wounds and make life better for the citizens of Zanzibar. In this case series, we were able to show the benefit of treating, challenging and chronic wounds with human keratin matrix. Not only did it demonstrate the use of education and proper training for standards of wound care can allow providers in underserved areas to treat more patients and treat them successfully. It also opened up another option for an advanced wound care product to be used in underserved countries. The use of human keratin matrix provides the benefit of easy shipping, easy storage, life, and expanded product use with the product not needing to always be applied on a weekly basis. Indeed, the socioeconomic status of these patients is different and will be different in every country. However, it is critical that we continue to target the global underserved regions in order to reduce complications and reduce healthcare costs. What makes this project extremely purposeful and successful in my eyes, is our continued communication with the people and the providers of Zanzibar. We're using advanced technology in order to keep in touch. Though we're many countries apart, the patients are still receiving in-person and in real time medical recommendations and guidelines, and this is fostering a continued successful wound care treatment service in the country of Zanzibar.