Light Therapy in Patients Undergoing Surgery for Septic Joint, Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infection, Intraabdominal Sepsis, or Medical Treatment for Pneumonia

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying how exposure to bright blue light compared to standard white hospital lighting affects the immune response and organ function in adults undergoing treatment for pneumonia, septic joint surgery, necrotizing soft tissue infection surgery, or intraabdominal infection surgery. The study explores how light influences circadian clock proteins that regulate immune function, aiming to improve outcomes in serious infections and critical illness. This research builds on previous work showing blue light's impact on immune competence and tissue injury reduction. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: one group will be exposed to bright blue light (around 1700 lux, 442 nm spectrum) for 12 hours a day from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM for three days, while the other group will receive standard ambient white fluorescent hospital lighting (300-400 lux) following the same schedule. The blue light is delivered using a small, portable device that participants will shine on themselves during the day for 72 hours. Both groups follow a 12-hour light and 12-hour dark cycle, with blue light turned off and filtered at night. During the study, participants will receive their standard medical or surgical care. Researchers will collect blood samples over the three days to measure inflammatory markers and circadian protein levels. Additional data such as white blood cell counts, heart rate, and infection complications will be monitored through medical records. The main outcomes include changes in inflammatory responses and organ dysfunction measured at the start and after 72 hours. The study aims to assess how blue light exposure may influence immune response and recovery in these infection-related conditions.

The Role of Circadian Clock Proteins in Innate and Adaptive Immunity