Early use of allograft skin: are 3-day microbiologic cultures safe?
BACKGROUND
Under the guidance of the American Association of Tissue Banks and the Food and Drug Administration, the use of allograft skin is safer than ever. In addition to the donor selection process and serology studies, current practice is to wait until 7 days of negative microbiologic cultures are completed before use. However, we have used 3 days of negative cultures in special cases as needed for clinical use. But how safe is this practice?


METHODS
Between 2002 and 2003, 735 allograft skin donors were authorized for exceptional release. Exceptional release forms were signed by surgeons to document knowledge of the 3-day microbiologic cultures.


RESULTS
Only three donors were recalled for positive cultures. The recall rate was 0.41%.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of 3-day microbiologic cultures is 99.59% safe. Thus, the early use of allograft skin does not increase the chances of microbiologic contamination to patients.
Britton-Byrd
Benita W
BW
From the Shriners Hospital for Children, Galveston Unit, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas.
Lynch
James P
JP
Williamson
Stephen
S
McCauley
Robert L
RL
D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002102:Cadaver; D006801:Humans; D012449:Safety; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology*; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D014019:Tissue Donors; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous