CLINICAL SAFETY OF NEXOBRID® IN THE MANAGEMENT OF BURN WOUNDS: A REVIEW OF CLINICAL STUDIES

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31435/ijitss.2(50).2026.5875

Keywords:

NexoBrid; Bromelain, Burn Care, Enzymatic Debridement, Patient Safety, Adverse Events

Abstract

Background: NexoBrid® is an enzymatic debridement agent approved as an alternative to surgical excision in the treatment of burns. While highly effective in the selective removal of necrotic tissue, its clinical safety remains a paramount consideration.

Objective: The aim of this review was a systematic evaluation of the safety profile of NexoBrid in the adult population suffering from burn injuries.

Materials and Methods: The literature search was performed in PubMed and Embase and included studies published from 2012 to 2026. The articles were investigated in terms of adverse events, such as pain, bleeding, infection, hypersensitivity and systemic response.

Results: The analysis identified procedural pain as the most prominent complication, which was effectively managed through standardized anesthetic protocols. The risk of bleeding or infection emerged as being similar or lower compared to traditional surgical treatment. No allergic reactions or anaphylactic events were reported, likely due to implemented exclusion criteria. Minor systemic response was recorded; however it was usually mild and transient.

Conclusions: NexoBrid appears to present a robust safety profile and remains a reliable alternative to tangential excision in adults.

References

Alekseev, A. A., Malyutina, N. B., Bobrovnikov, A. E., & Shoham, Y. (2023). Enzymatic debridement of deep thermal burns in the Russian Federation: First experience. Life (Basel), 13(2). https://doi.org/10.3390/life13020488

Arkoulis, N., Mabvuure, N. T., Smith, A., & Barnes, D. E. (2021). Early experiences using bromelain-based enzymatic debridement in a tertiary burns centre in the United Kingdom: A retrospective case series review. Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery, 74(6), 1402–1407. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjps.2020.12.028

Bordeanu-Diaconescu, E. M., Grama, S., Grosu-Bularda, A., Frunza, A., Andrei, M. C., Neagu, T. P., & Lascar, I. (2024). Bromelain in burn care: Advancements in enzymatic debridement and patient outcomes. European Burn Journal, 5(4), 438–453. https://doi.org/10.3390/ebj5040039

Bowers, C., Randawa, A., Sloan, B., Anwar, U., Phipps, A., & Muthayya, P. (2022). Enzymatic debridement in critically injured burn patients: Our experience in the intensive care setting and during burn resuscitation. Burns, 48(4), 846–859. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.burns.2021.07.023

Breidung, D., Billner, M., Ortner, F., von Imhoff, P., Lapinskas, S., Karcz, K., Delavari, S., & Ehrl, D. (2025). Systemic effects of enzymatic necrosectomy in minor burn wounds using NexoBrid®. Journal of Personalized Medicine, 15(8). https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm15080330

Bulla, A., Rivas Nicolls, D. A., Lopez Martinez, J. A., Aguirrezabala, J. A., Visiedo, M. B., Baena, J., Barret Nerin, J. P., & Serracanta Domenech, J. (2025). Single center experience of the first 300 patients treated with bromelain-based enzymatic debridement. Burns, 51(5), 107508. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.burns.2025.107508

Capitelli-McMahon, H., McCrossan, S., Kershaw, J., Muthayya, P., Anwar, M. U., Carter, A., & Sloan, B. (2024). The use of NexoBrid enzymatic debridement and coagulation abnormalities. Burns, 50(1), 123–131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.burns.2023.06.012

Claes, K. E. Y., Amar, S., Hoeksema, H., Kornhaber, R., de Jong, A., Monstrey, S., Haik, J., Biros, E., & Harats, M. (2022). Pain management during a bromelain-based selective enzymatic debridement in paediatric and adult burn patients. Burns, 48(3), 555–567. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.burns.2021.05.018

Cordts, T., Horter, J., Vogelpohl, J., Kremer, T., Kneser, U., & Hernekamp, J. F. (2016). Enzymatic debridement for the treatment of severely burned upper extremities: Early single center experiences. BMC Dermatology, 16(1), 8. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12895-016-0045-2

Deplazes, B. C., Hofmaenner, D. A., Scheier, T. C., Epprecht, J., Mayer, M., Schweizer, T. A., Buehler, P. K., Frey, P. M., & Brugger, S. D. (2024). Enzymatic debridement with bromelain and development of bacteremia in burn injuries: A retrospective cohort study. Burns, 50(2), 405–412. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.burns.2023.12.005

Hofmaenner, D. A., Steiger, P., Schuepbach, R. A., Klinzing, S., Waldner, M., Klein, H., Enthofer, K., Giovanoli, P., Mannil, L., Buehler, P. K., & Plock, J. A. (2021). Safety of enzymatic debridement in extensive burns larger than 15% total body surface area. Burns, 47(4), 796–804. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.burns.2020.10.012

Kaita, Y., Nakajima, M., Matsuda, T., & Yamaguchi, Y. (2025). Association of combined enzymatic and surgical debridement with clinical outcomes in extensive burn patients. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 14(15). https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14155233

Krieger, Y., Bogdanov-Berezovsky, A., Gurfinkel, R., Silberstein, E., Sagi, A., & Rosenberg, L. (2012). Efficacy of enzymatic debridement of deeply burned hands. Burns, 38(1), 108–112. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.burns.2011.06.002

Krieger, Y., Rubin, G., Schulz, A., Rosenberg, N., Levi, A., Singer, A. J., Rosenberg, L., & Shoham, Y. (2017). Bromelain-based enzymatic debridement and minimal invasive modality (MIM) care of deeply burned hands. Annals of Burns and Fire Disasters, 30(3), 198–204. https://pmc-1ncbi-1nlm-1nih-1gov-100001ahr0995.han3.wum.edu.pl/articles/PMC5946757/

Lugilde Guerbek, A., Serracanta Domenech, J., Bulla, A., Lopez Martinez, J. A., Rivas Nicolls, D., Arteaga, A., Grabosky Elbaile, A., Orois, S., & Barret, J. P. (2025). NexoBrid use in the elderly. European Burn Journal, 6(4). https://doi.org/10.3390/ebj6040058

Mattern, M. M., Fuchs, P. C., & Schiefer, J. L. (2022). Role, development, and value of enzymatic debridement as integral component in initial treatment of burn injuries exemplified by NexoBrid®. European Burn Journal, 3(2), 340–354. https://doi.org/10.3390/ebj3020029

Maurer, H. R. (2001). Bromelain: Biochemistry, pharmacology and medical use. Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, 58(9), 1234–1245. https://doi.org/10.1007/PL00000936

Rosenberg, L., Krieger, Y., Bogdanov-Berezovski, A., Silberstein, E., Shoham, Y., & Singer, A. J. (2014). A novel rapid and selective enzymatic debridement agent for burn wound management: A multi-center RCT. Burns, 40(3), 466–474. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.burns.2013.08.013

Rosenberg, L., Krieger, Y., Silberstein, E., Bogdanov-Berezovsky, A., Arnon, O., Shoam, Y., Rosenberg, N., Sagi, A., David, K., Rubin, G., & Singer, A. J. (2012). SAEM abstracts, plenary session. Academic Emergency Medicine, 19(S1), S8. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1553-2712.2012.01332.x

Schulz, A., Fuchs, P. C., Rothermundt, I., Hoffmann, A., Rosenberg, L., Shoham, Y., Oberlander, H., & Schiefer, J. (2017). Enzymatic debridement of deeply burned faces: Healing and early scarring based on tissue preservation compared to traditional surgical debridement. Burns, 43(6), 1233–1243. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.burns.2017.02.016

Sheridan, R. L. (2001). Comprehensive treatment of burns. Current Problems in Surgery, 38(9), 657–756. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0011-3840(01)70019-6

Shoham, Y., Gasteratos, K., Singer, A. J., Krieger, Y., Silberstein, E., & Goverman, J. (2023). Bromelain-based enzymatic burn debridement: A systematic review of clinical studies on patient safety, efficacy and long-term outcomes. International Wound Journal, 20(10), 4364–4383. https://doi.org/10.1111/iwj.14308

Tapking, C., Rontoyanni, V. G., Diehm, Y. F., Strubing, F., Solimani, F., Bigdeli, A. K., Hundeshagen, G., Fischer, S., Kneser, U., & Siegwart, L. C. (2023). Enzymatic debridement in geriatric burn patients: A reliable option for selective eschar removal. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 12(7). https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12072633

Waldner, M., Zucal, I., Gentzsch, T., Klein, H. J., Schweizer, R., Kim, B. S., Bühler, K. P., Giovanoli, P., & Plock, J. A. (2021). Delayed enzymatic debridement in severe burns: Proof of concept. Burns Open, 5(4), 24–28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.burnso.2021.06.004

Downloads

Published

2026-06-10

How to Cite

Cieślak, A., Demkow, S. ., Paluszkiewicz, N., Leżańska, Z., Kwiatkowski, M., Bryg, S., Siemińska, K., Marcinkowska, K., Pałyga, E. ., & Sowińska, J. (2026). CLINICAL SAFETY OF NEXOBRID® IN THE MANAGEMENT OF BURN WOUNDS: A REVIEW OF CLINICAL STUDIES. International Journal of Innovative Technologies in Social Science, 2(2(50). https://doi.org/10.31435/ijitss.2(50).2026.5875