Assessment of Incidence of Presence of Bacteria in Sutures of Maxillofacial Trauma Patients

Abstract

Background: Sutures under selective host or environmental factors can potentiate postoperative surgical site infection. The present study characterized microbial recovery and biofilm formation from explanted absorbable and non-absorbable sutures from infected and non-infected sites of maxillofacial trauma patients. Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the incidence of microbiology of explanted suture segments from infected and non-infected maxillofacial trauma patients. Methods and Materials: Non absorbable and absorbable suture segments were collected at Randomly from 80 patients with two groups one group with infected sutures second group with non-infected sutures. Explanted sutures were recovered from maxillofacial trauma surgeries. Suture segments were obtained upon patient return to the clinic after seven days for review. All suture segments were collected aseptically. Designation of non-infected versus infected was determined by clinical presentation and criteria defined by the National Healthcare Safety Network of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. All the suture specimens were sent to University Microbiology department for bacterial culture and the results were studied. Results: A significant difference in mean microbial recovery between non infected and infected sutures were noted. Age distribution showed, males 86.25% and females 13.75% [Fig. 1]. Fig. 5 shows the Association of infected and non-infected suture groups with presence or absence of bacteria infected suture shows presence bacteria 13.75%, and non-infected suture showed presence of bacteria 6.25%, absence of bacteria 80.0%. Table 1- Presence or absence of infection cross tabulation showed, presence of  bacteria in infected suture 11, presence of bacteria in non-infected suture 5 and absence of bacteria 64. Conclusion: Within the limitation of study, we found that bacterial presence on the suture has a statistically significant role in causing postoperative infection. Any suture may be considered as a port of entry for infection, which in turn may compromise healing of the surgical wound. It is advised to minimize the duration of the presence of sutures, and their removal should be carried out as early as possible, according to the specific healing conditions.