title: Microbiologyc control in human heart valves.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate, from microbiological point of view, the valves processed by Human Heart Valve Bank of Santa Casa de Misericórdia of Curitiba for use in cardiovascular surgeries.
  
  
  METHODS
  The processing of 1,671 valves, accomplished within the period of time between July 1999 and June 2004, was evaluated. Out of the valves and the solutions involved in the process, samples were collected and spread in culture mediums, such as fluid thioglycollate medium, tryptic soy broth and Sabouraud broth, for incubation during 14 days, using a modified methodology based on the Farmacopéia Brasileira 1988 (Brazilian Pharmacopeia) and USP 1990 (United States Pharmacopeia). The samples in which growing was observed were submitted to microbian identification.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In a set of 1,671 samples, 92% were considered proper for use under microbiological point of view, since they did not display microbian contamination. The remaining 8% were rejected for clinical use because of contamination in some stage of the valve processing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  From the Analysis of the results, it was observed the importance of microbiological control in human grafts, in order to avoid using microbiologically contaminated valves in patients submitted to cardiovascular surgery.
authors.affiliation: Cardioprótese--Ind. e Com. de Produtos para Saúde, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Passo Fundo, RS, Brazil. angelamariaperuzzo@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Angela Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Peruzzo
authors.forename: Francisco Diniz Affonso
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: da Costa
authors.forename: Wanda Moscalewski
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Abrahão
mesh_terms: D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000592:standards*; D006351:Heart Valves / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000637:transplantation*; D006801:Humans; D014015:Tissue Banks / Q000592:standards*