Effect of Ozone Gas (O3) Therapy versus Saturated Fusidic Acid Dressing on Bacterial Swab Count and Chronic Diabetic Foot Ulcer Area

Abstract

Introduction: Nurses are the cornerstone of comprehensive care for diabetic foot ulcer patients, playing a pivotal role in ensuring the success of treatment protocols, whether using ozone gas or fusidic acid dressings. Objective: The current quasi-experimental study aimed to compare the effectiveness of treatment with ozone gas (O3) versus saturated fusidic acid dressing on bacterial smear count and chronic diabetic ulcer grade. Materials and Methods: The study sample included diabetic patients with diabetic foot ulcers in two experimental groups (15 patients in each group). The first group underwent ozone therapy and the second group underwent treatment by applying saturated fusidic dressing. They were selected using the convenient sampling method, and using two instruments, the first of which was developed by the researcher and the second translated (the Wagner scale for assessing the area and degree of wounds).Results: It showed that diabetic ulcers in the group that underwent ozone treatment showed a faster and greater rate of area and degree reduction compared to the second group. Recommendations: The study recommended including ozone therapy protocols among complementary treatment options in diabetic foot ulcer management programs, especially in cases that show a slow response to traditional treatments.