title: Microbial colonization of tourniquets used in orthopedic surgery.
abstract: This study analyzed tourniquets used for orthopedic surgery in our hospital to determine the frequency and type of microbial contamination. Group A tourniquets were from our main operating room, Group B tourniquets were from our ambulatory surgicenter, Group C tourniquets were unused, prepackaged, sterile tourniquets from our main operating room, and Group D tourniquets were sterilely packed tourniquets from our ambulatory surgicenter. Tourniquets from Groups A, B, C, and D had 100%, 40%, 0%, and 0% microbial growth, respectively. For Group A tourniquets, coagulase-negative staphylococci, Bacillus, and Staphylococcus aureus were present in 100%, 60%, and 20% of tourniquets, respectively. Twenty percent were contaminated either with Streptococcus sanguis, Aerococcus viridans, or Cornyebacterium species. Coagulase-negative staphylococci and Bacillus were present in 40% and 30% of Group B tourniquets, respectively. Tourniquet contamination may be a risk factor for the development of surgical site infection in orthopedic surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery Rhode Island Hospital, USA.
authors.forename: Eric F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.forename: Debby
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ben-David
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ritter
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mechrefe
authors.forename: Leonard A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Mermel
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: DiGiovanni
mesh_terms: D004866:Equipment Contamination; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014111:Tourniquets / Q000382:microbiology*