VIRULENCE FACTORS OF PATHOGENIC BACTERIA IN WOUND INFECTIONS AND BIOCHEMICAL CHANGES IN THE WOUND ENVIRONMENT

Wound infections remain one of the pressing problems of modern medicine. They prolong the healing period of patients, increase the risk of disability, and in some cases pose a direct threat to life. This article analyzes the virulence factors of the main pathogenic bacteria occurring in wound infections, as well as the biochemical changes taking place in the wound environment. The mechanisms of adhesion, tissue invasion, toxin production, biofilm formation, and immune evasion of Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Clostridium perfringens, and other important pathogens are examined in detail. The influence of biochemical processes in the wound environment—such as oxygen deficiency, pH changes, lactate accumulation, and disturbances of protein and carbohydrate metabolism—on the activity of pathogens is revealed. Based on a literature review, it is shown that the development of wound infection depends not only on the number of microorganisms but also on their level of virulence and local environmental conditions. The results emphasize the importance of managing the wound environment in the prevention and treatment of wound infections. In addition, the expression of virulence factors at different stages of wound infection and their clinical consequences were given special attention.