Scientists could soon use bacteria that are originally found in feces to heal chronic wounds faster. An open wound, for example, is a perfect little breeding ground for bacteria. But not all bacteria are bad. In fact, there is a good bacterium that acts as Alcaligenes faecalis, and it is so named because it was originally found in feces.

I know what you’re thinking. How can something found in feces be good for wounds? While it may sound completely crazy, scientists say the bacteria have been shown to be very useful in promoting the healing of chronic wounds, especially in diabetics.

The main reason diabetics struggle with chronic wounds so often is because their body’s coordinated wound healing process usually breaks down. This makes chronic wounds much more difficult to heal. Because these injuries are so difficult to treat, they can even lead to painful infections. However, by introducing good bacteria, we can encourage more natural healing.

The researchers also made this latest discovery by chance. They examined the microbiome of these chronic wounds and came across A. faecalis. At first they thought it might just be a foreign body. However, when they colonized the wounds with the bacteria, they noticed that the wounds actually seemed to heal much faster.

In fact, the researchers found that wounds in diabetic mice produced faster-moving keratinocytes, an important skin cell involved in wound closure. It appears that these good bacteria are responsible for the formation of these faster-moving cells.

Further research is needed to find out the exact reasons. A. faecalis has proven to be so useful and valuable in healing chronic wounds. However, a study published in Science Advances shows that it can compete with some particularly dangerous bacteria and still come out on top.