title: Bacterial contamination of tissue allografts - experiences of the donor tissue bank of Victoria.
abstract: The aim of this study is to report the experience of the Donor Tissue Bank of Victoria with bacteria isolated from musculoskeletal, skin and cardiac allografts retrieved from cadaveric donors. The results of all quality control samples for bacterial culture, taken during retrieval and processing of allografts at the DTBV for a 12 month period, were extracted and analysed. It was found that 15.7% of skin, 15.1% of heart valves and 5.8% of musculoskeletal samples had positive culture results. The number and types of organisms isolated varied with tissue type. The most commonly isolated organisms were Staphylococcus species (including S. aureus). The identity of the isolate and the number of positive specimens from the same donor were considerations in the decision concerning the suitability of tissue for subsequent implantation.
authors.affiliation: Donor Tissue Bank of Victoria, Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, Department of Forensic Medicine, Monash University, 57-83 Kavanagh Street, Southbank 3006, Australia. lyn@vifm.org
authors.forename: Lyn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ireland
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Spelman
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D001424:Bacterial Infections; D002102:Cadaver; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006351:Heart Valves / Q000382:microbiology / Q000637:transplantation; D006801:Humans; D009132:Muscles / Q000382:microbiology / Q000637:transplantation; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D014015:Tissue Banks; D014019:Tissue Donors; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous