Stored skin--stored trouble?
Quantitative bacteriology is presented on 102 consecutive split-skin grafts. A sample of graft was cultured whenever skin was taken and whenever stored skin was used. Stored skin unused at 21 days was also cultured. The percentage take of grafts was inversely proportional to number of organisms/g of skin (r = -0.24, p < 0.05). Commonly used storage conditions facilitated bacterial multiplication. There was no significant difference in organisms/g contaminating grafts for different surgeons, skin preparations, types of grafts, cutting tools or mode of anaesthesia. Male patients had a significantly greater count for initial grafts (p = 0.02), but after 3 weeks storage there was no sex difference.
Titley
O G
OG
West Midlands Regional Plastic and Jaw Surgery Unit, Wordsley Hospital.
Cooper
M
M
Thomas
A
A
Hancock
K
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003080:Cold Temperature; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D005260:Female; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012034:Refrigeration; D012737:Sex Factors; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology*; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014021:Tissue Preservation