title: Patterns of microbiology in intra-abdominal packing for trauma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study tracks the microbiology of packs and infections in damage-control trauma patients to determine whether the packs cause infections.
  
  
  METHODS
  The peritoneum and abdominal packs were cultured in patients who survived to re-operation. The study recorded all positive cultures, pack count, packing duration, number of operations, and infections.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-five patients were studied. Twenty-eight patients survived; seven died. Packs were cultured in 29 patients. Data for 291 cultures collected. Pack cultures were positive in 20 patients and negative in nine. Positive pack cultures grew skin and gut flora. Twenty-one patients had infections, 14 did not. Organisms from positive pack cultures did not contribute to subsequent infections or mortality. Microbes and sites of infections were consistent with SICU patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intra-abdominal packs are contaminated with skin and gut flora. These contaminants, however, do not contribute to subsequent infections. Pathogens from subsequent infections were typical for ICU infections.
authors.affiliation: Michael E DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine and Ben Taub General Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Granchi
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Abikhaled
authors.forename: Asher
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hirshberg
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Wall
authors.forename: Kenneth L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Mattox
mesh_terms: D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality*; D001458:Bandages; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality*; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000209:etiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012086:Reoperation; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects