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01-03-2018 | Original Article - Neurosurgical Anatomy

Bacterial colonisation of suture material after routine neurosurgical procedures: relevance for wound infection

Authors: Bujung Hong, Andreas Winkel, Philipp Ertl, Sascha Nico Stumpp, Kerstin Schwabe, Meike Stiesch, Joachim K. Krauss

Published in: Acta Neurochirurgica | Issue 3/2018

Abstract

Background

Wound healing impairment is a serious problem in surgical disciplines which may be associated with chronic morbidity, increased cost and patient discomfort. Here we aimed to investigate the relevance of bacterial colonisation on suture material using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect and taxonomically classify bacterial DNA in patients with and without wound healing problems after routine neurosurgical procedures.

Methods

Repeat surgery was performed in 25 patients with wound healing impairment and in 38 patients with well-healed wounds. To determine the presence of bacteria, a 16S rDNA-based PCR detection method was applied. Fragments of 500 bp were amplified using universal primers which target hypervariable regions within the bacterial 16S rRNA gene. Amplicons were separated from each other by single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis, and finally classified using Sanger sequencing.

Results

PCR/SSCP detected DNA of various bacteria species on suture material in 10/38 patients with well-healed wounds and in 12/25 patients with wound healing impairment including Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Propionibacterium acnes and Escherichia coli. Microbiological cultures showed bacterial growth in almost all patients with wound healing impairment and positive results in PCR/SSCP (10/12), while this was the case in only one patient with a well-healed wound (1/10).

Conclusions

Colonisation of suture material with bacteria occurs in a relevant portion of patients with and without wound healing impairment after routine neurosurgical procedures. Suture material may provide a nidus for bacteria and subsequent biofilm formation. Most likely, however, such colonisation of sutures is not a general primer for subsequent wound infection.

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Title: Bacterial colonisation of suture material after routine neurosurgical procedures: relevance for wound infection
Authors: Bujung Hong
Andreas Winkel
Philipp Ertl
Sascha Nico Stumpp
Kerstin Schwabe
Meike Stiesch
Joachim K. Krauss
Publication date: 01-03-2018
Publisher: Springer Vienna
Published in: Acta Neurochirurgica / Issue 3/2018
Print ISSN: 0001-6268
Electronic ISSN: 0942-0940
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-017-3404-9

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Bacterial colonisation of suture material after routine neurosurgical procedures: relevance for wound infection

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on sleep in brain health

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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